Wayside School (book series) facts for kids

The Wayside School series is a collection of funny and imaginative children's books. They were written by Louis Sachar, a famous author known for his book Holes, which won a big award called the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. These books take readers on wild adventures inside a very unusual school building.

About the Author, Louis Sachar

Louis Sachar is an American author who has written many popular books for young readers. He was born in 1954 and started writing the Wayside School books in the late 1970s. Sachar is known for his unique sense of humor and his ability to create memorable characters and strange, funny situations. His stories often teach important lessons about friendship, fairness, and understanding others, but they are always full of laughs.

The Unusual Wayside School Building

Wayside School is not like any other school you know! It was built by a very confused builder. Instead of being built side by side, the school was built 30 stories high, with one classroom on each floor. This means students have to climb many stairs to get to their classes. The builder also made a mistake and forgot to build a 19th story, so there is no classroom on that floor! This strange design leads to many funny and unexpected events throughout the series.

Meet the Students and Teachers

The books mainly focus on the students and teachers of Mrs. Jewls's class on the 30th story. Each chapter tells a short story about a different character or a funny event that happens at the school.

Some of the students you might meet include:

• Todd: He often gets into trouble, even when it's not his fault.
• Maurecia: She loves to eat ice cream and is very strong.
• Sharice: She is known for her very long pigtails.
• Myron: He is a kind and thoughtful student.
• Louis: The friendly yard teacher who helps everyone.

The teachers are just as unique as the students. Mrs. Jewls is a kind but sometimes silly teacher who believes her students are angels. Before her, there was Mrs. Gorf, a very mean teacher who could turn students into apples!

The Books in the Series

The Wayside School series has several books, each filled with new adventures and funny stories. Here are the main books in the series:

• Sideways Stories from Wayside School (published in 1978): This was the first book, introducing readers to the strange school and its characters.
• Wayside School is Falling Down (published in 1989): More hilarious stories about the students and teachers, with new challenges.
• Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School (published in 1989): This book is a fun way to learn math with the Wayside characters.
• More Sideways Arithmetic from Wayside School (published in 1994): Another book that makes learning math exciting and funny.
• Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger (published in 1995): The school becomes even more unusual, with new mysteries and strange events.
• Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom (published in 2020): The latest book in the series, bringing new adventures to the beloved school.

Why Kids Love Wayside School

Kids aged 12-15 often enjoy the Wayside School books because they are incredibly funny and imaginative. The stories are short and easy to read, making them perfect for quick laughs. The characters are quirky and relatable, and the absurd situations make readers wonder what crazy thing will happen next. The books also subtly explore themes of friendship, individuality, and how to deal with unusual situations, all while keeping a light and humorous tone.