Bailey School Kids facts for kids

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids, often called simply The Bailey School Kids, is a super popular series of chapter books for young readers. Written by Marcia T. Jones and Debbie Dadey, these books are full of mystery and fun. John Steven Gurney created the original look for all the characters and drew the pictures inside and on the covers. Later, some books got new covers by Nathan Hale.

In each story, a group of kids from Bailey School meets a new person. This person seems normal, like a teacher or a janitor. But the kids start to wonder if they might actually be a mythical creature! Could their new teacher be a vampire? Is the camp counselor a werewolf? The cool part is, the books never fully tell you. You're left guessing if the character is really a monster or just a bit unusual.

There are over 80 books in this exciting series. This includes special longer books called Super Specials, Holiday Special Editions, and even a newer series for younger readers called BSK "Jr". There's also a spin-off series, Bailey City Monsters. The very first book, Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots, came out in 1990.

Main Characters

These are the four main kids who solve mysteries in the series:

Howie

• Howie is a smart and logical kid. He's friends with Liza, Melody, and Eddie. His dad works for a place that deals with space technology. Howie often tries to find sensible answers to strange happenings.

Melody

• Melody is a close friend of Liza. She is usually the bravest of the group, ready to face whatever comes their way. She also loves to compete with Eddie, especially when it comes to sports or games.

Liza

• Liza is quite sensitive and easily scared. She doesn't like the idea of anyone getting hurt, even if they might be a monster. Liza loves to believe in fairy tales and magical things. She also can't swim, which sometimes causes funny situations.

Eddie

• Eddie is the tough one in the group. He often teases his friends when they think they've seen a monster. He always tries to prove that there's a normal explanation for everything. Eddie also enjoys playing pranks, especially on Carey.

Recurring Characters

These characters show up in many of the Bailey School Kids adventures:

Mrs. Jeepers

• Mrs. Jeepers is the kids' mysterious teacher. Some of them strongly suspect she might be a vampire! Other teachers couldn't handle the class, but Mrs. Jeepers keeps them in line, mostly because the kids are a little scared of her. Her family comes from Transylvania, and she even has a strange, coffin-like box in her basement. Despite all the clues, it's never truly confirmed if she's a vampiress. She appears in all the Super Special books.

Mr. Jenkins

• Mr. Jenkins is the camp counselor at Camp Lone Wolf. The kids wonder if he's a werewolf. He seems tough and mean at first, but sometimes he shows a softer side, especially when it comes to nature. He's tall and hairy, wears torn clothes, and has pointy ears. He also has a famous howl. Just like Mrs. Jeepers, you never really know if he's a werewolf.

Dr. Victor

• Dr. Victor is a very smart scientist who lives in Bailey City. Some people think he might be related to the famous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. This makes them believe his friend, Frank, could be Frankenstein's monster! Dr. Victor and Frank sometimes argue, but they always make up. It's also hinted that he might have created "Frankenstein's Bride."

Carey

• Carey is a popular and wealthy girl at Bailey Elementary. She can seem a bit spoiled, but she does care about what's happening around her. She gets especially worried when the kids talk about Mrs. Jeepers being a "vampiress." Eddie loves to scare Carey with his pranks.

Books List

Here are some of the books in the main series and other special editions:

The Adventures Of The Bailey School Kids

• Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots
• Werewolves Don't Go To Summer Camp
• Santa Claus Doesn't Mop Floors
• Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball
• Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
• Frankenstein Doesn't Plant Petunias
• Aliens Don't Wear Braces
• Genies Don't Ride Bicycles
• Pirates Don't Wear Pink Sunglasses
• Witches Don't Do Backflips
• Skeletons Don't Play Tubas
• Cupid Doesn't Flip Hamburgers
• Gremlins Don't Chew Bubble Gum
• Monsters Don't Scuba Dive
• Zombies Don't Play Soccer
• Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade
• Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats
• Martians Don't Take Temperatures
• Gargoyles Don't Drive School Buses
• Wizards Don't Need Computers
• Mummies Don't Coach Softball
• Cyclops Doesn't Roller-Skate
• Angels Don't Know Karate
• Dragons Don't Cook Pizza
• Bigfoot Doesn't Square Dance
• Mermaids Don't Run Track
• Bogeyman Don't Play Football
• Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides
• Knights Don't Teach Piano
• Hercules Doesn't Pull Teeth
• Ghouls Don't Scoop Ice Cream
• Phantoms Don't Drive Sports Cars
• Giants Don't Go Snowboarding
• Frankenstein Doesn't Slam Hockey Pucks
• Trolls Don't Ride Roller Coasters
• Wolfmen Don’t Hula Dance
• Goblins Don't Play Video Games
• Ninjas Don't Bake Pumpkin Pie
• Dracula Doesn't Rock And Roll
• Sea Monsters Don't Ride Motorcycles
• The Bride Of Frankenstein Doesn't Bake Cookies
• Robots Don't Catch Chicken Pox
• Vikings Don't Wear Wrestling Belts
• Ghosts Don't Ride Wild Horses
• Wizards Don't Wear Graduation Gowns
• Sea Serpents Don't Juggle Water Balloons
• Frankenstein Doesn't Start Food Fights
• Dracula Doesn't Play Kickball
• Werewolves Don’t Run For President
• The Abominable Snowman Doesn't Roast Marshmallows
• Dragons Don't Throw Snowballs

Bailey School Kids Super Special Editions

These are longer adventures featuring the main characters, often with Mrs. Jeepers:

• Mrs. Jeepers Is Missing
• Mrs. Jeepers' Batty Vacation
• Mrs. Jeepers' Secret Cave

Bailey School Kids Holiday Specials

These books are themed around holidays:

• Swamp Monsters Don't Chase Wild Turkeys
• Aliens Don't Carve Jack-O-Lanterns

Bailey School Kids 'Jr' Chapter Books

This series is for slightly younger readers:

• Ghosts DO Splash In Puddles
• Reindeer DO Wear Striped Underwear

Bailey City Monsters

This is a spin-off series about monsters living in Bailey City:

• The Monsters Next Door
• Howling At The Hauntlys’