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Mr. Wolf's Class #2
Mystery Club: A Graphic Novel
Another charming and funny adventure in the Mr. Wolf's Class series!
Mr. Wolf's students are settling into their new classroom, and Randy, Aziza, and Margot realize they have some What happened to Aziza's favorite Frisbee?2. Is the girls' bathroom really haunted?3. Where is Mr. Greens, the teacher who disappeared? To answer these questions, the three friends start a mystery club! What could be more fun? Meanwhile, Abdi is wondering what happens to the balls that are accidentally kicked over the fence during recess, and thinks he'll be a hero if he can find his best friend's football.Mysteries abound at Hazelwood Elementary!
Mr. Wolf's students are settling into their new classroom, and Randy, Aziza, and Margot realize they have some What happened to Aziza's favorite Frisbee?2. Is the girls' bathroom really haunted?3. Where is Mr. Greens, the teacher who disappeared? To answer these questions, the three friends start a mystery club! What could be more fun? Meanwhile, Abdi is wondering what happens to the balls that are accidentally kicked over the fence during recess, and thinks he'll be a hero if he can find his best friend's football.Mysteries abound at Hazelwood Elementary!
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2019
131 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 29, 2022
Still loving this series. The books are really grounded in the lives of the students. It's pretty chill. There are little misunderstandings and friendships. Mr. Wolf is nice all the time.
June 5, 2020
In this one we have naughty kids, birthdays and awesome pizza, and a mystery club. I really liked the idea of the mystery club, but I wasn't a fan of the kids just wandering through the school and making excuses. And that none of the teachers (nor the principal) cared. Wow... And when the kids went home one just got out of the car and ran away. WTF?
Lol at the kids not liking the cubbies but wanting lockers and then saying that they need lockers because things happen... which wouldn't happen if the teacher just acted a bit more strict and kept a closer eye on his class instead of just sitting and staring at his laptop. Lord, from what I remember in my elementary school (and on that note the rest of the school time) we didn't even have lockers or cubbies. So why are you complaining?
Also why don't they have a higher fence around the playground, given how many times balls fly over that fence it would seem safer to just make a bigger fence, or have a net around the ball area.
Some fun science facts.
I did think it was weird that Abdi asked if he was the only boy at the party, um everyone was invited??????????????????
The rat stuff is so weird...
Lol at the kids not liking the cubbies but wanting lockers and then saying that they need lockers because things happen... which wouldn't happen if the teacher just acted a bit more strict and kept a closer eye on his class instead of just sitting and staring at his laptop. Lord, from what I remember in my elementary school (and on that note the rest of the school time) we didn't even have lockers or cubbies. So why are you complaining?
Also why don't they have a higher fence around the playground, given how many times balls fly over that fence it would seem safer to just make a bigger fence, or have a net around the ball area.
Some fun science facts.
I did think it was weird that Abdi asked if he was the only boy at the party, um everyone was invited??????????????????
The rat stuff is so weird...
January 9, 2021
the humor fits mine, kind of a dark - middle - school humor. i love it.
September 18, 2019
I really like Steinke's playful sensibility. I enjoyed Big Plans, and bought a bunch of his Mr. Wolf zines for a teacher friend, and dug those as well when I read them.
He lives in Portland, hence the local interest tag.
Here, he turns his anecdotal teacher story work into a longer form graphic novel, packaged for kids. In some ways, I missed some of the wink-wink qualities of the zines, but I'm not sure I could pinpoint exactly how this feels different... Maybe it's that I remember those zines as being mostly cute quotes from kids to the teacher. Here, the story is from the kid perspective, and Mr. Wolf himself is more of a background character.
Full color, and the human characters all have various animal heads. I've already given this to kids at my library!
He lives in Portland, hence the local interest tag.
Here, he turns his anecdotal teacher story work into a longer form graphic novel, packaged for kids. In some ways, I missed some of the wink-wink qualities of the zines, but I'm not sure I could pinpoint exactly how this feels different... Maybe it's that I remember those zines as being mostly cute quotes from kids to the teacher. Here, the story is from the kid perspective, and Mr. Wolf himself is more of a background character.
Full color, and the human characters all have various animal heads. I've already given this to kids at my library!
October 2, 2024
I loved the illustrations in this book and how inclusive it is. It's particularly great for the classroom as it covers some educational topics, too (the solar system, explaining NASA, etc). Steinke included lots of interesting topics, and I thought it was interesting how he touched on how "chicken" could've been offensive in this character context. It introduces children to different language and how being mindful about what you say is important (definitely a great discussion topic). I'd absolutely have this book in my classroom!
September 12, 2022
I loved this graphic novel as much as I think kids would! The author/artist is also a 5th grade teacher in Portland, Oregon and he has these elementary students down to a T. Good diversity representation, even with the characters drawn as a variety of animals. Reminded me a lot of my years as an elementary school teacher! I will definitely read more in this series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 13, 2019
It's cute. I'm hoping the characters develop more over time.
March 11, 2025
3.5 stars. I’ll probably write a longer review but I want to say some of this now. I read this with my 4-year old. I didn’t intend to rate it because I don’t usually rate his books. But I liked this quite a bit and I *want* to write a review for it. It’s a junior graphic novel. I’ve previously come to the recognition that YA novels can and often are as good as novels for adults. I’ve also only fairly recently come to view graphic novels as a format which has a lot to offer—a whole new sensation, the way that listening to an audiobook is different from reading a book from the page. I’m now questioning whether junior level books, a step below YA, can also be as good as books for adults. Now that I’m thinking about it, THE EYES AND THE IMPOSSIBLE was sorted as a junior novel. I think the cat books I read, the WARRIORS series, also is. So I guess I’m just now coming to realize something that I already knew.
I feel about this book the way I felt about BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY. That book was one of my favorite reads of 2023 even though I didn’t feel I could give it 5 stars. I thought seriously about my rating for this book before making it and my heart tells me to go 3 stars. But that doesn’t diminish that, even though I think it doesn’t come together *quite* as well as it ought to, I’m still impressed by the book and think very fondly of it. It has such a small-scale story with moments that are very perceptive and human. Maybe I’m just writing the official review now.
No—I’m not really able to devote the time I’d like to at the moment. Suffice it to say, for now, that although I’m giving this 3 stars, it’s a high 3 stars. A 3-star with the heart of a 4.5.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now for the full review. I’m keeping what I wrote before, just adding to it. The moment that I hold onto more than any other comes early in the book when protagonist Randy arrives late to class. Her teacher, Mr. Wolf, sends her to the office to get a tardy slip. The next two pages chronicle her walk to the office over several panels, with one showing her hopping up to touch the hallway doorframe. That’s it. It’s just that small moment, that very human action being captured in this book… gee, it thrills me. Another example: Randy’s classmate Abdi is being driven home by his mother when he yells at her suddenly to stop the car. She does, and he jumps out to search for a bunch of lost balls and Frisbees in a wooded area behind the school, thinking that he’ll be a hero for finding these items. He returns to the car with an armful of balls, then hops back in and buckles up, saying, “Let’s go!” His mother considers him with arms crossed and he asks what’s wrong. “You’re just like your father,” she replies with a small smile. We as readers don’t know Abdi’s father, but the moment rings true nonetheless. I hate that I feel the need to do this, but it still seems like it bears mention: the way Abdi’s mother looks at her son, her response to his antics, this isn’t something that the putative target audience would appreciate. It is an entirely adult perspective.
There are several other scenes I can point to. Later in the book, a full two pages documents a chef lovingly crafting a pizza, putting the ingredients together, and delighting in the smell of the finished product as it cooks. At a birthday party, Abdi shows up and sees several girls running about. He self-consciously asks, “Am I the only boy here?” Once he’s assured that he’s not, he relaxes and run off to play. Earlier, at school, Margot the rabbit goes to speak with the secretary about the disappearance of a beloved teacher. While waiting to be seen, she encounters another kid who is sobbing with an ice pack on his head, having slipped on a banana peel. “I didn’t know that could actually happen,” she comments, before patting him on the back and telling him it will all be okay. Meanwhile, she’s laughing internally at the idea of a person actually slipping on a banana peel. There’s all sorts of these quiet, simple moments that I found so appealing. When I described it to my wife, she asked if I was suggesting it is Curtis Sittenfeld-esque and, yes, I suppose I am. This is the kind of thing I love in Sittenfeld’s writing and I love it here, too.
That said, the reason I felt I had to give it 3 stars is that there is little follow-through in the narrative. That is, the title “mystery club” doesn’t really amount to anything. Yes, the question of Mr. Greens’ disappearance is answered, but the club otherwise seems so inconsequential. There is a difference between being small-scale and being inconsequential, and I’m afraid the book’s story sometimes veers too close to the latter. It’s the story of a couple of days in the lives of these elementary school age children, and overall I did not feel there was a lot to motivate the story. When it finally comes to a close, it seems an entirely arbitrary moment to end the book. And although there were some smaller moments to love in the lengthy interrogations in re: Mr. Greens, for instance, it also could not help but feel over-long.
Don’t let this bit of criticism dissuade, though. I still feel as I did before – it’s a 3-star with the heart of a 4.5-star. The things I liked about the book I liked quite a lot and they will definitely be what I retain when I think about the book later on far more than its weaknesses. I can’t discount those issues I had with the book entirely, but I can make it clear here that my excitement at discovering so much to love in the book, and at the way MR. WOLF’S CLASS further cements in my head the worthiness of the graphic novel format and junior novels as a genre, make this a read I will definitely look on with affection.
I feel about this book the way I felt about BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY. That book was one of my favorite reads of 2023 even though I didn’t feel I could give it 5 stars. I thought seriously about my rating for this book before making it and my heart tells me to go 3 stars. But that doesn’t diminish that, even though I think it doesn’t come together *quite* as well as it ought to, I’m still impressed by the book and think very fondly of it. It has such a small-scale story with moments that are very perceptive and human. Maybe I’m just writing the official review now.
No—I’m not really able to devote the time I’d like to at the moment. Suffice it to say, for now, that although I’m giving this 3 stars, it’s a high 3 stars. A 3-star with the heart of a 4.5.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now for the full review. I’m keeping what I wrote before, just adding to it. The moment that I hold onto more than any other comes early in the book when protagonist Randy arrives late to class. Her teacher, Mr. Wolf, sends her to the office to get a tardy slip. The next two pages chronicle her walk to the office over several panels, with one showing her hopping up to touch the hallway doorframe. That’s it. It’s just that small moment, that very human action being captured in this book… gee, it thrills me. Another example: Randy’s classmate Abdi is being driven home by his mother when he yells at her suddenly to stop the car. She does, and he jumps out to search for a bunch of lost balls and Frisbees in a wooded area behind the school, thinking that he’ll be a hero for finding these items. He returns to the car with an armful of balls, then hops back in and buckles up, saying, “Let’s go!” His mother considers him with arms crossed and he asks what’s wrong. “You’re just like your father,” she replies with a small smile. We as readers don’t know Abdi’s father, but the moment rings true nonetheless. I hate that I feel the need to do this, but it still seems like it bears mention: the way Abdi’s mother looks at her son, her response to his antics, this isn’t something that the putative target audience would appreciate. It is an entirely adult perspective.
There are several other scenes I can point to. Later in the book, a full two pages documents a chef lovingly crafting a pizza, putting the ingredients together, and delighting in the smell of the finished product as it cooks. At a birthday party, Abdi shows up and sees several girls running about. He self-consciously asks, “Am I the only boy here?” Once he’s assured that he’s not, he relaxes and run off to play. Earlier, at school, Margot the rabbit goes to speak with the secretary about the disappearance of a beloved teacher. While waiting to be seen, she encounters another kid who is sobbing with an ice pack on his head, having slipped on a banana peel. “I didn’t know that could actually happen,” she comments, before patting him on the back and telling him it will all be okay. Meanwhile, she’s laughing internally at the idea of a person actually slipping on a banana peel. There’s all sorts of these quiet, simple moments that I found so appealing. When I described it to my wife, she asked if I was suggesting it is Curtis Sittenfeld-esque and, yes, I suppose I am. This is the kind of thing I love in Sittenfeld’s writing and I love it here, too.
That said, the reason I felt I had to give it 3 stars is that there is little follow-through in the narrative. That is, the title “mystery club” doesn’t really amount to anything. Yes, the question of Mr. Greens’ disappearance is answered, but the club otherwise seems so inconsequential. There is a difference between being small-scale and being inconsequential, and I’m afraid the book’s story sometimes veers too close to the latter. It’s the story of a couple of days in the lives of these elementary school age children, and overall I did not feel there was a lot to motivate the story. When it finally comes to a close, it seems an entirely arbitrary moment to end the book. And although there were some smaller moments to love in the lengthy interrogations in re: Mr. Greens, for instance, it also could not help but feel over-long.
Don’t let this bit of criticism dissuade, though. I still feel as I did before – it’s a 3-star with the heart of a 4.5-star. The things I liked about the book I liked quite a lot and they will definitely be what I retain when I think about the book later on far more than its weaknesses. I can’t discount those issues I had with the book entirely, but I can make it clear here that my excitement at discovering so much to love in the book, and at the way MR. WOLF’S CLASS further cements in my head the worthiness of the graphic novel format and junior novels as a genre, make this a read I will definitely look on with affection.
June 14, 2019
Find my full review here: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
Super-cute and full of adventure, MYSTERY CLUB is a great comic for reluctant or new readers in elementary school. Featuring a class of animals and their antics, this is a fun comic that is easy to get into. Each chapter features its own connected story, such as the formation of the Mystery Club, their attempt to solve the mystery of a missing teacher, and the finding of all the balls and frisbees that disappeared during recess in the crazy land beyond the fence.
With brightly colored illustrations of animals and funny stories, this book is sure to capture the imagination of young readers. The pages turn quickly in true comic style, with many things illustrated vs. written.
What I loved: The stories are entertaining and funny at times, which is sure to keep elementary schoolers engaged. Each section could be its own story, which allows readers to devour each section in their own time, making it great for early and/or reluctant readers. There is also great diversity in the cast with one child having two mothers, another worried about money (in terms of buying a gift for a birthday party), and another in a hijab. Although they are not people, it’s always great to see diversity in children’s books. The illustrations are also really great with a cartoony air that will appeal to the target audience.
Final verdict: If you are looking for a delightful and quick read, I highly recommend picking up this fun comic. With broad appeal to the elementary school audience, this diverse cast of students are sure to delight young readers!
Super-cute and full of adventure, MYSTERY CLUB is a great comic for reluctant or new readers in elementary school. Featuring a class of animals and their antics, this is a fun comic that is easy to get into. Each chapter features its own connected story, such as the formation of the Mystery Club, their attempt to solve the mystery of a missing teacher, and the finding of all the balls and frisbees that disappeared during recess in the crazy land beyond the fence.
With brightly colored illustrations of animals and funny stories, this book is sure to capture the imagination of young readers. The pages turn quickly in true comic style, with many things illustrated vs. written.
What I loved: The stories are entertaining and funny at times, which is sure to keep elementary schoolers engaged. Each section could be its own story, which allows readers to devour each section in their own time, making it great for early and/or reluctant readers. There is also great diversity in the cast with one child having two mothers, another worried about money (in terms of buying a gift for a birthday party), and another in a hijab. Although they are not people, it’s always great to see diversity in children’s books. The illustrations are also really great with a cartoony air that will appeal to the target audience.
Final verdict: If you are looking for a delightful and quick read, I highly recommend picking up this fun comic. With broad appeal to the elementary school audience, this diverse cast of students are sure to delight young readers!
June 6, 2022
Hurmaava lastensarjakuva Mr. Wolf's class saa jatkoa osalla Mystery club. Neljäsluokkalaiset elävät normaalia neljäsluokkalaisten elämää ja oppivat asioita koulussa ja koulun ulkopuolella. Joukko lapsia päättää perustaa arvoituksia ratkovan klubin, Mystery club. Luokan edellinen opettaja on kadonnut mystisesti ja lapset päättävät ottaa selville, mitä opettajalle tapahtui. Muiden arkistenkin asioiden ohella eräällä luokan oppilaalla on syntymäpäivä ja kaikki, aivan kaikki on kutsuttu mukaan.
Tämä on mielestäni todella hyvää lastensarjakuvaa, jossa jännitystä ei tarvitse hakea yltiökoheltamisella, örkeillä tai sirkustempuilla. Aivan tavallinen kouluelämäkin voi olla hauskaa, jännittävää, yllätyksellistä ja hyvän sarjakuvan arvoista. Lämmin suositus.
Tämä on mielestäni todella hyvää lastensarjakuvaa, jossa jännitystä ei tarvitse hakea yltiökoheltamisella, örkeillä tai sirkustempuilla. Aivan tavallinen kouluelämäkin voi olla hauskaa, jännittävää, yllätyksellistä ja hyvän sarjakuvan arvoista. Lämmin suositus.
April 10, 2019
Aron’s expressive drawings made me laugh out loud many times, especially when the principal is talking on phone as students leave his office or when Abdi has a thundercloud over his head because he’s mad. I’m glad the characters and author address the potentially offensive phrase of calling someone (even oneself) a chicken in this anthropomorphic universe. Great splash panels of Mr. Wolf’s drinks getting knocked over and Abdi finding and returning lost balls. I really like the way Aron uses the page as a storytelling unit, either uniting it as a mini-scene or breaking it up as series of vignettes. On a subtle level, this comic represents diverse cultures and genders. Bravo, Aron!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 1, 2023These are so cute because it's just everyday type things that might happen to a class of 4th graders and their teacher. (Other than the pesky little rats) I can't wait to read the next one.
February 27, 2025
A little difficult to read aloud, but my kindergartner was also able to read them to herself. Great beginner books
April 1, 2020
I really enjoy this series. The student feel genuine even if they look like wildlife.
March 3, 2019
This book has a great moral: when it comes to solving mysteries, adults can't be trusted.
March 28, 2019
Not as cute as the first book, but I love how diverse the classroom is .
October 5, 2022
This Mystery Club book of the Mr. Wolf's Class series is a wonderful graphic novel with a super fun story line. A group of students form a mystery club and come up with a few mysteries that they want to solve. They want to know what happened to Mr. Greens, what happened to Aziza's frisbee, and if the girls bathroom is actually haunted. Another student, Abdi, is also wondering about his own mystery: what happens to all the balls that have been kicked over the fence? There are many mysteries going on in Mr Wolf's class, and they get solved throughout the book!
The illustrations in this graphic are just great! I love that there are different sizes of pictures, and it the book isn't completely uniform- it has lots of variety. The cartoon style of drawing is perfect for a graphic novel because it feels like you are watching the story being animated in real life. I also loved the illustrations that go along with each chapter introduction page, they give you a little hint about what is to come while being very simple. All of the animals are very expressive throughout all of the illustrations and it brings the characters to life.
I think this book would be perfect for a struggling reader, or a student who does not particularly enjoy reading. With it being about a class, it is very relatable for kids in school, and I think that could help a child get into this book. I also love that it is a series so if a child loves this book, there is more for them to enjoy! I would recommend this book for grades 1-5, depending on reading level. It is wonderfully written and illustrated, and I think kids would really enjoy it!
The illustrations in this graphic are just great! I love that there are different sizes of pictures, and it the book isn't completely uniform- it has lots of variety. The cartoon style of drawing is perfect for a graphic novel because it feels like you are watching the story being animated in real life. I also loved the illustrations that go along with each chapter introduction page, they give you a little hint about what is to come while being very simple. All of the animals are very expressive throughout all of the illustrations and it brings the characters to life.
I think this book would be perfect for a struggling reader, or a student who does not particularly enjoy reading. With it being about a class, it is very relatable for kids in school, and I think that could help a child get into this book. I also love that it is a series so if a child loves this book, there is more for them to enjoy! I would recommend this book for grades 1-5, depending on reading level. It is wonderfully written and illustrated, and I think kids would really enjoy it!
August 28, 2021
Even though the all-animal cast of characters are meant to be in middle school, my guess is this will appeal to readers in 4th-6th grades - based on the plot, the character's interests, & the style of illustration.
I liked that the characters disregarded gender stereotypes in their clothing & interests, had a variety of family configurations, and had all sorts of animals as friends - with personal qualities that didn't conform to the traits of the animals in the real world. (...for example, the rabbit character isn't shy, the duck isn't a loudmouth, etc.)
In addition, all the animals use human English, and some have names associated with ethnicities. For example, there is a cat named Abdi, short for Abdikadir - but nothing about his clothing, features, skin color, or behavior mimics stereotypes or tropes.
The only exception to that is the exclusion of the entire species of rats from the school world, and the fact that while every other character is roughly the same size & walks on 2 feet, the rats are all smaller, walk on all fours, and talk in only squeaking.
Lighthearted self-consciousness makes way for individual growth, but NOT everything is logical & purposeful; sometimes the lack of consequences for breaking expected school/societal rules is baffling. For that reason, kids may enjoy this more than their teachers or parents.
Amusing, brief, realistic-ish.
I liked that the characters disregarded gender stereotypes in their clothing & interests, had a variety of family configurations, and had all sorts of animals as friends - with personal qualities that didn't conform to the traits of the animals in the real world. (...for example, the rabbit character isn't shy, the duck isn't a loudmouth, etc.)
In addition, all the animals use human English, and some have names associated with ethnicities. For example, there is a cat named Abdi, short for Abdikadir - but nothing about his clothing, features, skin color, or behavior mimics stereotypes or tropes.
The only exception to that is the exclusion of the entire species of rats from the school world, and the fact that while every other character is roughly the same size & walks on 2 feet, the rats are all smaller, walk on all fours, and talk in only squeaking.
Lighthearted self-consciousness makes way for individual growth, but NOT everything is logical & purposeful; sometimes the lack of consequences for breaking expected school/societal rules is baffling. For that reason, kids may enjoy this more than their teachers or parents.
Amusing, brief, realistic-ish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2019
Mr. Wolf has settled into his role as a teacher in a school in the Pacific Northwest in this second graphic novel featuring his diverse classroom. Randy invites everyone to her birthday party. The students are insistent on having lockers instead of cubbies for storage purposes, and they are curious as to whatever happened to their former teacher, Mr. Greens, as well as the whereabouts of various balls and Frisbees. All the little stories connect in some way, and the students even form a mystery club to get the answers they seek. As most teachers know, students can have very vivid imaginations and make even the most mundane events seem dramatic as is the case here. I liked how the suspense about Mr. Greens was allowed to build up, only to be resolved in a realistic way. But oh, how those rats continue to plague the school and the town, even celebrating a birthday with a slice of their own S'mores pizza. It's pretty clear in this book as in the previous one that Mr. Wolf only thinks he's in charge of his class. He does seem more confident in this installment. Fifth and sixth graders will get a kick out of this series.
October 27, 2020
The titular class at Hazelwood Elementary is having a fun science activity where his students are going to make their own model solar system. Randy is inviting them to their birthday party, Abdi is nearly messing up the classroom, and some of the girls are making their own mystery club to solve the mysteries, such as the disappearance of a teacher and things that are lost like the soccer ball and frisbee.
Some thoughts:
*This was my first Mr. Wolf's Class book. At first, Randy is a boy, but I didn't know it was a girl when I found out they're wearing a dress at their birthday party. Plus, they have two moms!
*Surprisingly, Mr. Wolf bought his son to their party, which reminds me of the author/illustrator's son.
*One of the most important questions was not solved, but I don't think this was funny to me.
*I was shocked when the disappearing teacher was in there, so I don't want to spoil what's going on.
Some thoughts:
*This was my first Mr. Wolf's Class book. At first, Randy is a boy, but I didn't know it was a girl when I found out they're wearing a dress at their birthday party. Plus, they have two moms!
*Surprisingly, Mr. Wolf bought his son to their party, which reminds me of the author/illustrator's son.
*One of the most important questions was not solved, but I don't think this was funny to me.
*I was shocked when the disappearing teacher was in there, so I don't want to spoil what's going on.
March 21, 2022
Some of the girls in Mr. Wolf's class decide to start a mystery club as they try to figure out what happened to Mr. Greens, is the girls' bathroom haunted, and whatever happened to Aziza's Frisbee last year? Randy is also super excited because her birthday is coming up and everyone is invited to her party.
Steinke definitely knows how to channel the randomness of an elementary classroom (though I always feel like Mr. Wolf needs to run a bit tighter ship...the kids can sneak away from him WAY too easily). The mysteries were realistic mysteries elementary kids would think about, and some of them had unexpected conclusions (no real ghost though). Kind of slice of life-ish graphic novel featuring animal characters. Definitely aimed at the lower end of middle grade.
Notes on content: No language issues. Randy talks about having 2 moms, and they both appear in the part about her birthday party. A child goes off into the woods very suddenly on his own, but he ends up ok.
Steinke definitely knows how to channel the randomness of an elementary classroom (though I always feel like Mr. Wolf needs to run a bit tighter ship...the kids can sneak away from him WAY too easily). The mysteries were realistic mysteries elementary kids would think about, and some of them had unexpected conclusions (no real ghost though). Kind of slice of life-ish graphic novel featuring animal characters. Definitely aimed at the lower end of middle grade.
Notes on content: No language issues. Randy talks about having 2 moms, and they both appear in the part about her birthday party. A child goes off into the woods very suddenly on his own, but he ends up ok.
May 20, 2019
This colorful, good-natured, and inclusive comic book series is a lot of fun. Kids will most certainly find things to relate to in Mr. Wolf's at-times hyperactive classroom, and adults will have their memories jogged.
I laughed out loud to the references about the haunted girls' restroom, and wished there had been more about it in the comic, honestly. My elementary-school class also had a haunted bathroom, or so we thought, and it's ridiculous how much time we spent telling stories about the terrifying goings-on in there and employing "ghost detecting devices," one of which I got from a box of raisin bran. What is it about elementary school girls' bathrooms that make them such paranormal hotspots??
I laughed out loud to the references about the haunted girls' restroom, and wished there had been more about it in the comic, honestly. My elementary-school class also had a haunted bathroom, or so we thought, and it's ridiculous how much time we spent telling stories about the terrifying goings-on in there and employing "ghost detecting devices," one of which I got from a box of raisin bran. What is it about elementary school girls' bathrooms that make them such paranormal hotspots??
December 23, 2019
There are still mischievous rats all over school, but Mr. Wolf has found his groove and the fourth-grade students are more comfortable with each other. Randy, Aziza and Margot make a club to solve some mysteries: What happened to Mr. Green (their teacher last year)? Is the girl’s bathroom haunted? Where is Aziza’s frisbee? The whole class is excited to go to Randy’s pizza birthday party and Abdi is determined to retrieve the balls that have been lost over the school yard fence. This second volume in the series will please readers of the first, but readers new to the series will not feel lost either. The text is brief, but the illustration keeps the plot layered and interesting. This is a must purchase for elementary graphic novel collections.
January 11, 2020
I'm book talking this on Monday. Here's my book talk. I started with a coworker's base, but it was too short so I added and revised it.
How many of you like graphic novels? That’s great! This is a graphic novel mystery, and I love the author’s name. Who wouldn’t want to read a book by someone who’s last name sounds so close to Stinky?
Settling into a new classroom with teacher Mr. Wolf, Randy, Aziza, and Margot, Hazelwood Elementary students, start a mystery club to investigate three mysteries.
1. What is the fate of a missing teacher?
2. Is the bathroom really haunted?
3. Whatever happened to Aziza’s frisbee?
Mysteries are never easy to solve and birthday parties, surveys, and other students making things difficult.
How many of you like graphic novels? That’s great! This is a graphic novel mystery, and I love the author’s name. Who wouldn’t want to read a book by someone who’s last name sounds so close to Stinky?
Settling into a new classroom with teacher Mr. Wolf, Randy, Aziza, and Margot, Hazelwood Elementary students, start a mystery club to investigate three mysteries.
1. What is the fate of a missing teacher?
2. Is the bathroom really haunted?
3. Whatever happened to Aziza’s frisbee?
Mysteries are never easy to solve and birthday parties, surveys, and other students making things difficult.
June 10, 2022
The Mr. Wolf’s Class series of graphic novels started with an absolutely adorable and authentic book and Mystery Club continues the wonderfully fun vibes. The characters are just achingly pure kid- frustrated, fun, getting into trouble- and even the adults are just as plainly authentic (THANK YOU for writing parents who actually get angry ((mind you, not cruel angry but parental angry- I can’t tell you how many times parents are just these strange perfect art pieces that move the characters from one setting to another without being… parents?))) anyways!!! Absolutely loved this one and recommend it so much (especially to my kids!)
April 21, 2019
This elementary graphic novel is cute- I love that the characters are diverse (a duck in hijab, a cat with two mommies) but I wish that they were human. There are so many children’s books where the characters are “diverse”, but they’re animals. Kids deserve to see themselves as the characters instead of as animals who share some of their traits? That said, those traits and families were included, which is a great step. The storyline was a little meandering; it’s very vignette-y but overall ties together. The illustrations are super cute and it’s easy to follow.
July 22, 2019
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about these books that make me slightly uncomfortable... maybe it’s the students running rampant around the school or their slightly disrespectful/shaming nature towards each other at times. I get that that stuff happens, especially at school, but books are opportunities for teachable moments to show kids a different way to approach situations. Don’t get me wrong, the stories are fun and the characters/their backgrounds are diverse. I enjoyed reading the book. There’s just something off about it for me. I’m sure students will love it!
August 27, 2019
This graphic novel was seriously adorable! As a teacher, I am trying to expand my knowledge of children (2-5 grade) and middle grade books. This was a fun read which had relatable characters and families that children would be able to connect with. The art style alone drew me into checking this out from the library. I will be picking up more from this author in the future!
Update: I did not realize this was book 2 in the series. That would explain why it took me a while longer to understand the connection between the characters.
Update: I did not realize this was book 2 in the series. That would explain why it took me a while longer to understand the connection between the characters.
February 21, 2020
As with the first instalment of Mr Wolf’s Class, this is full of scenarios that I’m sure plenty of teachers will be able to relate to. It has even more mayhem and kids being kids, both at school and birthday parties. My favourite thing about this is that we learn more about the kids; those that cause mischief, those that are more nervous, and those that like solving mysteries. The illustrations themselves are as good as the first book, with bright colours and funny little details, which makes me want to keep turning the pages so that I can see what adventures they get up to next.
March 5, 2019
A completely biased review: Right?
I work with the author and I am #1 dork-fan of his work. Totally biased.
He is an amazing teacher - and an amazing author/illustrator...but even with my star-struck blinders on - I love this series - he gets kids, he puts his heart into his work and you can sense his passion for teaching with a sense of humor and grounded reality in both his Mr Wolf graphic novels!!
I work with the author and I am #1 dork-fan of his work. Totally biased.
He is an amazing teacher - and an amazing author/illustrator...but even with my star-struck blinders on - I love this series - he gets kids, he puts his heart into his work and you can sense his passion for teaching with a sense of humor and grounded reality in both his Mr Wolf graphic novels!!
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