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Do Bananas Chew Gum?
Sam acts like a smart aleck to keep from looking dumb Sam Mott's made it most of the way through sixth grade barely able to read and write. Now Sam's family's moved again, and none of the kids in his new school have started calling him Dumbhead Sam -- yet. But how long can Sam keep his problem secret when even the second grader he baby-sits for reads better than he does?
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 20, 2019
Twelve year old Sam Mott, a sixth grader, who reads and writes at a 2nd grade level is the protagonist of this story. As he struggles with his learning disability, he's ready to call it quits, until several different people enter into his circle and help him change his attitude to the positive.
May 7, 2018
Sam Mott is new in town; his dad changes jobs often, so Sam moves from school to school. While getting his braces tightened, he meets a woman who needs a babysitter for her two boys, and Sam gets his first job. He's great w/ the kids but not so great at reading Mrs. Glass's notes about medicine and walking the dog. Sam knows he has a problem reading and writing; in fact, his last school diagnosed him as having a learning disability.
Sam feels it is only a matter of time before he doesn't have any friends and before he loses his new job - no one wants someone stupid as a friend. However, Sam is above average for mathematics, and his new school recognizes that he might have special learning requirements when it comes to reading and writing. Another one from my old childhood collection.
This book is just like me. I have a learning disability. I love reading books, just like this book!!!
Sam feels it is only a matter of time before he doesn't have any friends and before he loses his new job - no one wants someone stupid as a friend. However, Sam is above average for mathematics, and his new school recognizes that he might have special learning requirements when it comes to reading and writing. Another one from my old childhood collection.
This book is just like me. I have a learning disability. I love reading books, just like this book!!!
November 17, 2021
In style and topic, this is very similar to Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements—both are about kids who are dyslexic and having trouble in school. The copy I read was deaccessioned from the library, probably because the MC’s parents discuss whether or not he is “r#t#rded” and because the type of orthodontia in this book is out of date and contemporary kids might not understand what was happening. (Do kids still have to wear retainers and accidentally throw them out in the lunchroom?) But the novel was really funny and well-written and had lots of action, including a tornado. It was like a beautiful slice of my 1980s childhood and I enjoyed it very much. Apparently Jamie Gilson died just last year. I am going to look for more of her books.
July 15, 2021
Fifth grader Sam thinks he's dumb because he struggles to read but finds out he has a learning disability.
I remember liking this book when I read it as a kid and it held up well for an adult re-read. I felt for Sam - his parents were not super useful as support for him. His dad does his homework for him and his mom gets aggravated. When he moves to a new school, Sam makes some new friends and gets a job as a babysitter which make his life better. There are some good fun scenes like digging through the school lunch trash for a discarded retainer and finding 'Viking treasure' in the roots of a tree that is blown over by a tornado.
I remember liking this book when I read it as a kid and it held up well for an adult re-read. I felt for Sam - his parents were not super useful as support for him. His dad does his homework for him and his mom gets aggravated. When he moves to a new school, Sam makes some new friends and gets a job as a babysitter which make his life better. There are some good fun scenes like digging through the school lunch trash for a discarded retainer and finding 'Viking treasure' in the roots of a tree that is blown over by a tornado.
March 5, 2023
I’ve always wanted to check this book out of the school library when I was in 5th grade, but for some reason I never got a chance to read it. Years later, I found a copy in the public library system I worked for, and I’m so glad I did! The characters and plot are so sweet and it’s scuba wholesome feel-good story! You don’t get that much nowadays.
March 21, 2018
Loved this book as a kid. Love it still now as an adult. I really want to read it with my 8 year old because she struggles with reading, much like Sam Mott does. I'm just not sure if she's ready for it.
February 9, 2019
This was a great peek inside the brain of someone with dyslexia. It clearly showed the frustrations faced by these children when they try their hardest and still can't read well.
August 5, 2021
Honestly didn’t love this book. The last chapter was my favorite but besides that, I wouldn’t recommend. It is also an older book and some words aren’t kosher for this day in age.
January 26, 2023
Read this cuz of nostalgia. I think it was one of the first no picture books I read as a child.. Still a classic !
June 12, 2025
Book about a boy who can’t read. This book says retard more than my great uncle did and thats saying something.
September 23, 2012
This is about a sixth grade boy, Sam, who can neither read nor write well at all. He is embarrassed by it, but finds a friend in a girl who is a know-it-all "brain" and actually quite nice. The book finishes by him taking a test and talking with a teacher who tells him he has a learning disability.
I liked this book because quite often the main characters of kids' books are sensitive kids who are smarter than their peers. It is really nice to have a kid who thinks of himself as dumber than his peers. (And indeed Sam thinks of himself as a dumbhead.)
The thing I did not like about this book is that it uses the word "retard". It is probably realistic, but I did not like it. (Sam uses it when thinking about himself.)
This book is not only about his learning disability--it is also about him getting braces, babysitting, liking archeology, and so on. My son liked this book a lot and requested a sequel.
Oh, and one more thing! Sam's reading ability is so low that a kid like him could NOT read this book. It would have to be read aloud. The vocabulary level is upper elementary. (Sam reads at a lower elementary level.)
I liked this book because quite often the main characters of kids' books are sensitive kids who are smarter than their peers. It is really nice to have a kid who thinks of himself as dumber than his peers. (And indeed Sam thinks of himself as a dumbhead.)
The thing I did not like about this book is that it uses the word "retard". It is probably realistic, but I did not like it. (Sam uses it when thinking about himself.)
This book is not only about his learning disability--it is also about him getting braces, babysitting, liking archeology, and so on. My son liked this book a lot and requested a sequel.
Oh, and one more thing! Sam's reading ability is so low that a kid like him could NOT read this book. It would have to be read aloud. The vocabulary level is upper elementary. (Sam reads at a lower elementary level.)
February 4, 2017
Sam Mott is new in town; his dad changes jobs often, so Sam moves from school to school. While getting his braces tightened, he meets a woman who needs a babysitter for her two boys, and Sam gets his first job. He's great w/ the kids but not so great at reading Mrs. Glass's notes about medicine and walking the dog. Sam knows he has a problem reading and writing; in fact, his last school diagnosed him as having a learning disability. Sam feels it is only a matter of time before he doesn't have any friends and before he loses his new job - no one wants someone stupid as a friend. However, Sam is above average for mathematics, and his new school recognizes that he might have special learning requirements when it comes to reading and writing.
C-u-t-e but not especially special.
Another one from my old childhood collection...
C-u-t-e but not especially special.
Another one from my old childhood collection...
April 17, 2009
I read this book for a competition I was in during elementary school called Battle of the Books. I remember thinking the title was really funny and liking the book. This book's title is intriguing and will probably make kids want to read the book simply to answer the question...DO Bananas Chew Gum?
The main character has problems reading and may have a learning disability. Sometimes the kids at school make fun of him and call him Dumbhead Sam. Parents, discuss with your children the importance of being nice to everyone and helping others succeed. Create an action plan for how your child can help one person around them (whether that be a brother, sister, friend, parent, or classmate).
The main character has problems reading and may have a learning disability. Sometimes the kids at school make fun of him and call him Dumbhead Sam. Parents, discuss with your children the importance of being nice to everyone and helping others succeed. Create an action plan for how your child can help one person around them (whether that be a brother, sister, friend, parent, or classmate).
August 29, 2025
This is a fantastic book. It made me cry. 10/10. It's more middle grade or YA, or even adult, in how complicated the writing is.
It's about someone trying to find their place in a confusing world. Wanting to live on their own terms but not being able to... Everything's so confusing. Knowing you have some value but not being able to show it. Being an outsider. And how one moment in time can dramatically alter the course of your life, just by happenstance.
I recalled a lot of moments from when I was growing up while reading this book. Small, little, moments that could have gone in any one direction. I wish I had had an Alicia or Mrs. Glass in my life back then.
It's about someone trying to find their place in a confusing world. Wanting to live on their own terms but not being able to... Everything's so confusing. Knowing you have some value but not being able to show it. Being an outsider. And how one moment in time can dramatically alter the course of your life, just by happenstance.
I recalled a lot of moments from when I was growing up while reading this book. Small, little, moments that could have gone in any one direction. I wish I had had an Alicia or Mrs. Glass in my life back then.
February 21, 2012
After finding Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub, I looked at the other books by Jamie Gilson. I remembered the title to this one as soon as I saw it, then recognized the cover when I looked at the other editions. The summary if familiar too.
I think this one ( and Thirteen Ways...) came from those wonderful book orders that were sent home from school every month or so. My parents always found a few dollars for me to get a book or two. I wonder how many other poor kids got their reading fix from these cheap, entertaining books...
I think this one ( and Thirteen Ways...) came from those wonderful book orders that were sent home from school every month or so. My parents always found a few dollars for me to get a book or two. I wonder how many other poor kids got their reading fix from these cheap, entertaining books...
June 23, 2008
Sam knows he's different from all the other people in his sixth grade class. He can't read most words and can't spell any, yet he's a wiz in math. A new babysitting job starts a path that leads him to learning that maybe he isn't as "dumb" as he thinks. A good read for boys who struggle with keeping up in the classrooom.
March 20, 2008
One of the few books with a male narrator at its helm this novel does a great job of capturing the struggles of a sixth-grader struggling to keep his learning disability a secret.
August 5, 2014
If they can, why not Sam Mott? :)Such a good book for children who have difficulties in writing and reading. :)
March 5, 2008
A great children's book that I didn't get to read until I was in college.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews