Out to Lunch

Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo #2

by Nancy E. Krulik, John & Wendy (Illustrator)

It's been a couple of weeks since Katie turned into the class hamster, and she's beginning to hope that maybe her transforming days are through. But more excitement lies ahead for Katie as she becomes Lucille, the cafeteria lunch lady! Unfortunately, the principal isn't too happy with a lunch lady who throws egg salad and starts food fights. . . so it's up to Katie (back in her own body) and her classmates to save the day.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Fantasy, School, Juvenile

80 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2002

About the author

Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including three New York Times bestsellers. She is best known, however, for being the author and creator of the Katie Kazoo Switcheroo book series, which has brought her to the attention of second, third, and fourth graders nationwide.

Nancy has also written extensively for teens and is well known as a biographer of Hollywood's hottest young stars. Her knowledge of the details of celebrities lives has made her a desired guest on several entertainment shows on the E! network as well as on Extra and Access Hollywood. She can be seen there talking about the secret lives of such celebs as Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, and Frankie Muniz. Nancy has also been a guest on radio broadcasts nationwide discussing the superstars she has researched over the years.

As the author of several teen and preteen advice books, including Grosset and Dunlap's Prom!: The Complete Guide to a Truly Spectacular Night, Nancy has been interviewed by several prominent magazines including Cosmo Girl, Teen, Teen People, Seventeen, and Teen Celebrity. She has also been the celebrity guest for three Teen People chat presentations. Nancy has recently begun to delve into the teen novel market, writing four romances for young adults, all of which will be published between 2004 and 2005.

Nancy currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser, their two children, Amanda and Ian, and a crazed cockerspaniel named Pepper .

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realy liked this book because Katie wishes that she can be someone els. Since she wished that she could turn into someone els and a shooting star was in the sky while she wished for it, I have been a little scared that I would turn into someone els. I have learned that I should never have a food fight in the cafitearia because the teachers will make you clean it up!

[Tamara the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Katie turns into the lunch lady. She learns how hard the lunch lady's job is-- and how much she wants to improve the quality of the lunches the students are served. Katie accidentally gets her fired during a food fight and then organizes a school lunch boycott to get the lady hired back. Katie also helps get the boys and girls to work better together instead of always competing against each other.

[Gabs · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was little, I used to LOVE these books. Katie is just so awesome. She changes into other people at random times, because of a stupid wish she made on an awful day. To teach her a lesson, she got exactly what she asked for.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzanne, as I recall, is a show-off with an attitude, but is a fun person. She argues that girls are better than boys and becomes engaged in an argument with Jeremy, Katie’s other best friend. Katie is a good friend who doesn’t like being caught in the middle and truly believes in gender equality. Meanwhile, the cafeteria food is nasty and Lucille, the lunch lady, is grumpy. Katie switcheroos into Lucille and incites a food fight. She has to figure out how to make amends on behalf of Lucille when she becomes herself again (and hopefully realizes how careful she needs to be whenever her switcheroos happen). This situation did make her more empathetic towards someone she previously judged.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are so nostalgic, not just because I read them as a kid, but because the children and school atmosphere are SO WELL WRITTEN for a random children’s chapter book series?? Reading this book about the school cafeteria reminded me of my own little stories about school lunch. This is also such a perfect thing to read to wind down before bed; something about it is really calming and soothing. I genuinely expected to dislike these books, but they’re so honest and have such respect for the lives of kids!

[Annie Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Katie Kazoo book - Out to Lunch.

Katie has this ability to switch into other bodies. The first book involved her temporarily becoming the class hamster.

In this book - Katie temporarily becomes the lunch room lady. The book is about how much the children at the school hate the food that is available in the cafeteria. They go on strike and don't eat the food.

After Katie switches back - all is resolved amicably.

[John Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is very charming. And each one teaches a gentle lesson about seeing things from another person's (or animal's!) point of view, and having empathy for others. Plus, I love the illustrations. I highly recommend this series to not only school-age children, but to us adults as well.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this 2nd book as well. I liked it a little better than the first book, because it did have a good message. Jane checked more of these books out to read too and I bet my older boys might secretly read them as well. :)

[Riski Oktavian · Rating 2 out of 5]

buku ini aku temuin secara gak sengaja di perpustakaan sekolah. karena tertarik jadi aku ambil dan coba baca buku ini.

isinya bener-bener fun, konflik yang disodorkan juga gak rumit banget. ceritanya cocok kalau lagi bosen dan pengen bacaan ringan.

[Tyler Replogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My six your old says it was a cool one and she wants more. Her favorite part was when they went on strike and when they decide who was going to take the pet home and do the girl stuff.

[Elizabeth Lemieux · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are my childhood. It was wonderful to read again as an adult and feel the nostalgia.

[Julie Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

She learned about the lunch lady's perspective and she realized how much work the lunch lady had done for them. Great and cute story!

[Ola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nic nadzwyczajnego. Zwykła książka dla dzieci, która mnie nie zachwyciła. Język bardzo prosty, dla początkujących :)

[Kelsie Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Not quite as good as the first but enjoyable. I love the characters and premise of this series as much as I did when I was a kid.

[STRP · Rating 4 out of 5]

RLD: it was good.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose we can agree a lunch lady is the last person anybody wants to be.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a cute series for elementary age kids
katie find her self in unexpected situations that teach her how to be kind and put herself in someone else's shoes

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading these books to my kids at bedtime. This is the 2nd one we have finished. I usually read 2 or 3 chapters a night. They often beg "one more chapter, please!"

Katie Carew some how gained the ability to switch bodies with someone else when she made a wish after a bad day.

In this book she switched into the lunch lady. She learns empathy in this book. She is literally in someone else's shoes. (Kids are rude, feet hurt, major back pain, hot behind the food counter, and she agrees the food is unhealthy)
Katie inadvertently starts a FOOD FIGHT! (My kids favorite part of the book). The lunch lady gets Fired!

Find out what happens. Great for conversation starters on school behavior, respect, empathy, working together, and healthy eating.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my younger book club members suggested we read Katie Kazoo books, so I picked this one up; not realizing it was actually the 2nd in the series. No big deal though since the first book is explained in this one. Katie is an 8 year old girl with a relatively normal life, except she can turn into other people (or hamsters). One day at school, Katie’s two best friends, Jeremy and Suzanne, are fighting over which one gets to take the class pet home for the weekend. The fighting continues into lunch and Katie is torn between them. Meanwhile the lunch lady is serving the students a terrible lunch as usual. Then it happens, Katie turns into the lunch lady!

While Katie is the lunch lady she realizes how mean the kids are to her, and how the lunch lady does not like the food she is supposed to serve the students. She refers to it as “garbage” and tries to throw some out, but a little hits George. Next things she knows a food fight has broken out in the cafeteria! The principle walks in and then, Katie finds herself back to being Katie, and the lunch lady has been fired! Can Katie fix this mess and get the lunch lady back her job?

This is a great series for those just starting to read chapter books; Katie is a fun girl, with everyday problems. Throw in her ability to switch places with others, and you have a recipe for a fun story!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book talks about how Katie kazoo's school serves really bad lunch and they think that the lunch lady is in charge of it. But afterwards Katie Kazoo finds out that being the only lunch lady in the cafeteria is really hard and she cant do much. She have once requested the principal for better lunches. I think that you cant look at something from just it's cover and you'll actually have to look carefully. I would recommend this to everyone.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie turns into Lucille the lunch lady who is known for not throwing away food. Katie throws away the food. She starts a food fight and gets fired. Katie's plan is for everybody to bring their own lunch to school so they can get Lucille back.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book because its a bout a young girl named katie and she wished that she could be someone else. But thought that it would come true.It was bad enough being the classroom hamster... could it possibly get any worse? Who will she turn into next.... i wonder

[Jenny]

Katie became the lunch lady and she didn't really do a good job on it

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book!

[maddykorneychuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

mmmm smell that lunch!

[vampire (dipita) grul]

lunch lunch is horrible.

[Audriana ' Ronnie]

I haven't read this book yet. My friend is reading it until i finish reading "Katie Kazoo Anyway You Slice It." This book look like it will be good.

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

good !!!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read when I was little ; )