Customer Reviews

Wayside School Boxed Set: Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, Wayside School is Falling Down, Sideway Stories from Wayside School

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This set, 'Wayside School Boxed Set' is also known as 'The Wayside School Collection' and contains all three of the "real" books in the 'Wayside School' series. 'Sideways Stories From Wayside School', 'Wayside School is Falling Down' and 'Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger' are as entertaining as they always were. The price is very good and you even get the three boxes together in a box. Please note that you do not get the Wayside Arithmetic books, which really were for more devoted fans and did nothing to enhance the actual storyline found in the three major/main books.

The only problem I had here was with the illustrations. I grew up reading the 'Wayside School' books, as they were illustrated by Julie Brinckloe. For years, I had a very clear picture of all the characters from Wayside School. Brinckloe's illustrations were very good at making the characters match Louis Sachar's descriptions. They've been stuck in my head for fifteen to twenty years. These three titles in the 'Wayside School' box set are illustrated by Adam McCauley and the difference is startling. I have a hard time warming up to the new (and inferior) artwork. Even though I like having the three books in a tidy little set, I definitely prefer Brinckloe's illustrations of the Wayside gang.

Everybody knows that Louis Sachar's humor was the real calling card for the 'Wayside School' series and not the pictures. However, you may want to stick with earlier copies of these books if you grew up looking at Julie Brinckloe's illustrations, as I did. Adam McCauley's illustrations are inferior in every way. The drawings are more juvenile and they don't look much like the original characters.

Don't get me wrong. The books are great, among the best children's literature you can buy for around $10 (the average price of the set). I'm still giving this four stars but you need to think about it a little before buying this box set. Unless you have no real attachment to the earlier artwork or are a first-time reader of the 'Wayside School' series, you'll want to track down the earlier copies. The "original" books are widely available for a great price in paperback, even if you have to buy them separately.

I first heard about these books from a friend who's a second grade teacher. She would read them to her class. Each chapter is a quick, individual story, usually about a particular student or situation. I keep one of these slim volumes in my purse at all times and pull it out when we have 5 to 15 minutes, like when waiting for our meal at a restaurant or waiting for daddy while he's in the dressing room. Since the stories stand alone, it's okay if you don't read them continuously: days or weeks may go by and you can quickly jump back into the world of Wayside School. Both my ten year old son and 7 year old daughter love these clever, zany, ironic stories. (Sometimes my ten year old reads them to the 7 year old!) Many stories require a little extra thinking to "get" the joke. It's a pleasure to see your kids eyes light up when they do! The book set makes a great gift for kids who aren't keen on reading, and, of course, those who are!

This book is about a class. They are located on the 30th story of their school. You'll meet john who can only read upside down. Sammy the stinky one. Laugh your guts off as you read these wacky stories.

This book is appropriate for middle grade readers and for people who love comedy books This book is by the Newberry award winner Louis Sachar {rhymes with cracker} who also wrote Wayside School is falling down and Wayside school gets a little stranger.

-Smiles

The anthology "Stories from Wayside School" has something for everyone. The cafeteria jokes like liver in purple sauce and baloneos are gross enough to make my 7 year-old son laugh until he cries. And at the same time, the wordplay is clever enough that my 10 year-old daughter can appreciate the literalism, twisted logic and double-entendres. Both kids feel so sorry for two-strike Todd, that I have to keep reminding them that these are just made-up stories. (They are, aren't they?) My children look forward to bedtime so that they can hear about the kids from Wayside School. If you have children in elementary school, you must have this book!

I help teach an elementary class of 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders and they loved these books! We started with one book and they liked it so much that we read the others. The stories are wacky, funny and fun. Now I'm reading them to my granddaughter (she's in 2nd grade) and she likes them too. I think they'd be great for 1st to 6th graders - maybe even older, as I enjoyed the stories also. I like that each chapter is a little mini-story, making it perfect for bedtime stories.

When the cooky Wayside School building was constructed, the builder accidentally built the school vertically instead of horizontally, making a thirty story-high building--but if you ever transfer there, remember there's no nineteenth floor (you'd have to read the books).
This little confusing mishap is just one of the hilarious stories of Wayside School, following Miss Jewels and her zany students. Author Louis Sachar is a very funny writer, making it easy for both kids and adults to love these books, here in a three-volume boxed set. The stories are close to loony, but always imaginative and creative.

My 7 year old son loved these books, we have all of them, and he keeps re reading them. He couldn't stop talking about all the funny things that go on. I only wish there were more.

These books got me through my elementary school years, my middle school years, and yes, my high school years. Maybe I'll take them with me to college this fall! Louis Sachar is a genius. His take on school is right on, gently ridiculing it while at the same time being sweet and nostalgic. I'd give it 10 out of 5 stars if I could. Priceless!

Wayside School was supposed to be a one-story building with thirty classrooms. The builder accidentally made each classroom an entire level, making the building look more like a skyscraper than a school! (Oh, and no matter what anyone tells you, there is no nineteenth story.)

Each chapter in Sideways Stories from Wayside School focuses on a different character from one class in particular: the class on the thirteenth story. Mrs. Gorf is known for being the meanest teacher at the school. She turns bad kids into apples. Then something unbelievable happens (shh - only the kids in her class know what happened!) and she is replaced by Mrs. Jewls, a very nice lady who is incredibly nervous about her new job. Luckily, the kids take to her, and she stays.

Mrs. Jewls could not have known how very . . . unique these students would be. Take Sharie, who "spen(ds) all of her time either looking out the window or sleeping," then falls out of the window and stays fast sleep until she is caught by Louis, the yard teacher. Consider Kathy, who does not like anyone, or Maurecia, who is liked by everyone (except Kathy) but only really likes ice cream. Meet artistic Bebe, gum-chewing Joy, mysterious Sammy, the three Erics, and more.

The characters reappear in Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger and Wayside School is Falling Down, each aptly titled, each illustrated in a similar manner. Just when you think things can't get any stranger at Wayside School, they do! Look at the cafeteria food closely, and watch out for the cows. Young readers will wish their school was as silly as Wayside School. Prepare to laugh 'til the cows come home. Really.

These books are so funny!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean reading them for the first time will make you cry of laughter. I laugh out loud while reading these. They are so wierd and funny!!!!!!