Miss Daisy Is Crazy!

My Weird School #1

by Dan Gutman, Jim Paillot (Illustrator)

Something weird is going on.

Miss Daisy, who teaches second grade, doesn't know how to add or subtract. Not only that, she doesn’t know how to read or write either. She is the dumbest teacher in the history of the world!

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Chapter Books, Realistic Fiction, Juvenile, School

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2004

About the author

The author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."

Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.

Reviews

[Acjerome2002 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really dislike these books, but my 6-year-old loves them and keeps bringing them home from the school library.

I'm trying not to be a grouch, but the main character AJ has a really snotty, negative attitude. Many things are dismissed as "weird", "dumb", "annoying" or "boring". I would not be happy if my sweet impressionable son starting talking like that all the time.

Also, did I miss a memo somewhere that the rules of grammar changed since I left school (it wasn't THAT long ago was it)?
WRONG: "me and the guys went to the beach"
RIGHT: "the guys and I went to the beach".
This mistake was made consistently throughout this book and others in the series, and it drives me crazy to keep editing as I read aloud to the kids. Maybe book editors think it is cute and reflects the way kids actually talk, but I can't stand it, even if it does make me sound extra grouchy.

[Bellezza · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've been reading a lot of Dan Gutman books in our school because he made a special guest appearance as an author/speaker yesterday. These books are funny, especially appealing to kids, and in the same manner as Junie B. Jones only for boys. Don't let the illustrations put you off (as they did me) as being unappealing; the text is really quite hilarious. Reluctant readers will especially enjoy this Weird School Series.

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scribd book and audio. A very light and funny text and narration.

Synopsis: "Prolific and popular author Dan Gutman launches a fun new series with this tale about second-grader A.J. and the unusual school he attends. On the first day of class, A.J. tells Miss Daisy he loves football and video games but hates school. Then Miss Daisy tells him she hates school, too, and the students think their teacher just might be an impostor."

[Cicely · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by the Barnes & Noble sales associate that said the series was popular right now. I have a 1st grade, 7 year old son who reads relatively advanced; I was looking for a bit of a challenge but still having a few pictures and what not. The reading was not difficult for him; however, after reading the first few chapters he told me there was a lot of "bad words" in this book. Mind you, he thinks words like "stupid," "shut up," and the alike are bad words. But regardless, I saw what he was talking about when I opened the book and saw the chapter title was "Dumb Miss Daisy..." If this is something that flies in your home, then it might be a good book for your child; however, calling a teacher dumb is considered very inappropriate for our family. I didn't look at this book close enough and was disappointed. Maybe it could work for a student a bit older, but I didn't like it for my 7 year old. I am discovering it is difficult to find good, relatively clean but not cheesy series these days!

[Hayden · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this book is geared towards young children but this is disgusting and shouldn’t be taught. Calling teachers dumb?? Having teachers who don’t know their information?? Not cool. Also, the grammar is incorrect in some spots and that is not good to teach young children. I don’t agree with these teachings and I recommend you don’t get these for children.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was impressed - I'm skeptical of series-books, especially ones with rhyming titles and dippy cartoons - but this was awfully sweet without being nauseating. It's a good high-interest, easy read for reluctant readers who will enjoy being smarter than the narrator and other characters. It's about a level L on Guided Reading - read-a-loud to kindergartners or first graders, and independent reading for 2nd or low 3rd.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned AJ likes football, and he said football players were dummies. My favorite part is when he asks one of the football players, "do you like knocking people on their butts?" That was really funny.

[SheLovesThePages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to a middle school, multi-grade level, special education class. They were engaged and interested in the story. It lends itself to making connections to themselves and making inferences. A good book to use for summarizing.
The only drawback is the amount of times I had to change out unexpected words like "dumb". I wish they would update it to be more classroom friendly.

[Narges Amooei · Rating 4 out of 5]

-از مجموعه کتاب‌های از انبار در اومده‌ی بچگی-
بامزه و جمع‌وجور و راحت برای خوندن :)) :>

[Janet Blowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first book in this series that my youngest daughter, Claudia is reading. Actually she finished it first and loved it so much she wants to buy the whole series. It was really cute how the teacher, Miss Daisy pretends not to know how to read or write or do math, and she has the kids teach her using their favorite subjects. Everyone thinks Miss Daisy is Crazy, but she comes up with some great ways to teach the kids using football and video games. She gets the kids to read a million pages so they can rent the school for one night and turn it into a video arcade, the best part is the kids think it was all their idea. I think I might read the whole series too. Really cute the way the kids are very reall life in the book.

[Elaina McClendon 📚🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a really great book for elementary students. I read this when I was in the third grade. Lol. I was so loyal to this series. This series reminds me of an ex friend of mine. I read two books in one day. I am literally on a role at this point. Love ❤️ !!!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis book is laugh out loud funny.
It's is in a seires, so there is
more rolling on the ground coming.

[Lady Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 / 5

Re-read in 2020 as part of my nostalgia-fest in times of boredom.

Ahem, and now for a few memorable quotes readers have to look forward to:

"Kids in the dungeon get locked up and are forced to listen to their parents' old CDs for house. It must be horrible." -- so true, especially since all my parents listen to is folk music *shudders*

"Mrs. Cooney's office is down the hall from our class. She says she's the school nurse, but personally I think she's a spy." -- makes me think that if I had delusions like this as a kid, my life would be a LOT more interesting

"'People come into hospitals all sick and injured, their arms falling off, their guts hanging out...'" -- in reference to why non one would want to become a nurse

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that Miss Daisy is very crazy.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny story! I read this out loud to a third grade class and they loved it!

[Dawn VanLerberghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Students and I enjoy reading this one in class. They love that the teacher is not so smart.

[Stormi (StormReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are immensely popular at my library, and part of my professional goal this year is to familiarize myself with children's literature that I haven't read. The series has been around for 20 years and is full of cheeky humor. In this first book, Miss Daisy convinces her second graders that she doesn't know anything - arithmetic, spelling, how to read. She hates school and just wants to eat bonbons all day! The kids decide that they might get a more rigorous teacher if Miss Daisy gets fired for not knowing anything, so they decide to teach her, and thus the tables are turned. Clever and funny.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Review: This ended up being a super fun kids’ book! The second grade kids have started school, but their teacher doesn't know how to read, write, spell, or do arithmetic! Not only that, there's a rumor there's a dungeon (principal says it's on the third floor)! So, plans are laid to buy the school and set it up as a video game arcade! The principal and teachers turn that desire into something fun and rewarding for everyone. My kids loved it and there were some great lessons taught (without them even knowing it--which are always my favorite kinds of lessons)! A great read-aloud book, or perfect for the second grader who also 'hates' school! Overall rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: None

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

There was nothing overly questionable in this book. There was the mention of the behind (using the slang term) followed by a short discussion about it. Overall, though, this is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+.

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

To see more fantastic books reviewed with content in mind, visit Squeaky Clean Reads!!

[Taliahshaw]

Miss daisy is crazy is a good book to me.The summary of the first chaper is a boy name a.j.Aj does not like school I think he does not like school because school is boring and there's nothing to do in school.To me I like school in good for its your education I love school.The second chapter is a bout miss daisy not being smart. I think every teacher in a school needs to know there adding,subtracing,multication,and divion.Now the kids in the book don't think that miss daisy is dumb wow.The third chapter is about how to spell read. I think when I was in third grade I knew how to spell read,anyway back to the chapter.This chapter is a bout the kids in second who does not know how to spell read.So some people knew how to spell read such as andrea she does how to spell every second grade.
One of aj freinds said that when you get older and you get a lot of money then you can pay people to resad for you that's not really nice to that.I learn from this book is that some teachers don't know nothing they problay just being because they thought that it was going to a fun thing to do..

[Rosemarie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not like this series. I’ve read a couple of the books to my elementary school age kids and I find them so offensive to girls that I have to skip over parts ... let’s see, the front of the book has pictures of the 5 main characters - 2 of which are girls. But in the story anytime One of those 2 girls says anything, the main character AJ shoots her down. One because she “cries at anything” (really?) and the other because she’s a “know it all, smarty pants” (whoa can’t let that happen). And yes I know sometimes in the end the main character realizes that girls can play sports or learning is fun etc etc but the damage is done. I don’t want to read aloud to my son and daughter that it’s okay to say and do those things. Period. I’m glad he learns but maybe he could have been nicer in the beginning. There are plenty of stories of funny boys who have friends who are girls who treat them nice - I’m thinking of the Roscoe Riley books. These are not cool. Sorry Dan.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've read a few of the books in the My Weird School Daze series by Dan Gutman. But it wasn't until recently that we realized that he'd written two other series as well, My Weird School and My Weirder School.

We decided to start from the beginning, with A.J. and his pals in second grade, and work our way through the books. So far, we really enjoy them and this story was a good example of irony and a teacher playing 'dumb' with her students in order to encourage their participation and stimulate their desire to learn.

[Lubianka Carrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a boy named A.J which goes to a school with his friends named Emily, Michael, Ryan, and Andrea. They all go to the same school which they have a teacher named Ms. Daisy which is a dum teacher but they get threw it together. The problem they are facing is that they all have a teacher who doesn't know math or even arithmetic. My opinion is that I can never go to a school that is weird because I would be freaked out. My evidence says " I hate arithmetic too! " You do " we all said. " Sure! I don't even know what you get if you multiply four times four ". The person who should read this book is my sister who 5 years old. Another opinion is that I love the" My Weird School " series because they are funny and cool.

[Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 stars*

This book was alright but the writing was dry.A.J had such a "Ugggghhhhhh"personality.The writing was really repetitive.For Example:This was in the book like 10 times."Everyone laughed even though I didin't say anything funny.That just killed it for me.And you could tell that Ms.Daisy did now reading and writing,she just faked it so her students can explain to her.This book was disappointing but the second book is better.i will continue with the series and I will write a review for the second book.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

chapter 1: I Hate School!
page 1: "My name is AJ. I like football and video games, and I hate school."

The next few pages drone on with the kid whining and his distain for school. "school is just this dumb thing that grown-ups thought up so they wouldn't have to pay for babysitters..."

I thought they looked fun, but a quick 30 second glimpse and I can see this is not something I want in my kids' head.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very slim chapter book, but it is cute and funnu. It was also more educational than I thought it would be.

The setting is second grade and A.J.'s teacher doesn't know how to read or do arithmetic! (Or so she claims...) This book is a good level for most second graders.

[Sterrett Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew: This is the first My Wierd School book by Dan Gutman. I personally loved Miss Daisy's love for Bonbons! She said that she could eat a whole box of Bonbons in one sitting! I liked when Mr.Klutz came to the video game night dressed like a gorilla!! Can you belive that!! I loved it!

[Baran · Rating 3 out of 5]

از یه طرف، این مجموعه یکی از سرگرم کننده ترین چیزای دوارن ابتداییم بود،کل مجموعه رو تا جایی که چاپ شده بود شیفته ‌وار میخریدم. قلم دن گاتمن خیلی ساده و راحت خون بود و ماجرا هم سرگرم کننده! به نظرم رفتار بچه های این کتاب از کتابای دیگه طبیعی تر بود و کمتر به اصطلاح شسته رفته رفتار میکردن.

ولی از طرف دیگه، من در این فکرم که آیا این واسه بچه ها مناسبه؟نمیدونم. خیلی حس میکردم این داستان از دید یه بزرگ‌تر به بچه ها نوشته شده، با اینکه اول شخص توصیف کننده، یه پسریچه ست. شاید اینکه اینکه دن کتاب بزرگسال هم مینویسم تو این موضوع بی تاثیر نبود.
من اینو تو سنی خوندم که تا حدی با مفهوم جوک و کنایه آشنا بودم، تو این کتاب فقط کمدی میدیدم ولی نمیدونم چی میشه اگه که بچه ای اینو جدی بگیره. حقیقتا نمیدونم. تو این مجموعه از کلمات احمق و دیوونه و … واسه بزرگ‌تر ها زیاد استفاده میشه و خوشحالم مامان بابام کنجکاو نشدن ببینن به جز رده سنی تو این کتاب چی نوشته:))) فکر میکنم اگه دنبال یه کتاب برای الگوی مناسب برای بچه هایید، فکر نمیکنم این گزینه ی خوبی باشه،

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is a turd, but the way Miss Daisy plays them and gets them to learn is perfection.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear i’ll always love these books. They bring back so many memories.