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Quick answer: If your child loved My Weird School, try Wayside School Is Falling Down, Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Bad Guys. All are quick, funny books about school, silliness and kids who love to laugh.
Dan Gutman's series follows A.J., a second grader who hates school and has wacky teachers and a rule-breaking principal. The books are short, silly and perfect for early readers. The titles below offer similar humour and speedy pacing for kids aged 6 to 10.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayside School Is Falling Down | Louis Sachar | 7-10 | absurd school humour |
| Captain Underpants | Dav Pilkey | 7-10 | potty humour |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Jeff Kinney | 8-12 | diary humour |
| The Bad Guys | Aaron Blabey | 6-9 | comic-style fun |
| Dog Man | Dav Pilkey | 6-10 | graphic novels |
| Big Nate: In a Class by Himself | Lincoln Peirce | 7-11 | cartoons and chaos |
| Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid | Megan McDonald | 6-9 | sibling humour |
| Judy Moody Was in a Mood | Megan McDonald | 6-9 | big moods |
| Ivy + Bean | Annie Barrows | 6-9 | friendship stories |
| Horrible Harry in Room 2B | Suzy Kline | 6-9 | school chapter books |
| Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist | Jim Benton | 6-9 | quirky scientists |
| Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark | Mary Pope Osborne | 6-9 | adventure and learning |
| The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable | Dan Gutman | 9-12 | more Gutman |
| Frindle | Andrew Clements | 8-12 | word games |
| Mercy Watson to the Rescue | Kate DiCamillo | 5-8 | early chapter books |
1. Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
A strange school is built sideways with 30 classrooms stacked on top of each other. Wacky and clever, with absurd characters.
Best for: absurd school humour.
2. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Two pranksters hypnotize their principal into believing he is a superhero. Loud, silly and loved by reluctant readers.
Best for: potty humour.
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Greg Heffley records his misadventures in middle school. A hugely popular illustrated diary.
Best for: diary humour.
4. The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
A wolf, a snake, a shark and a piranha try to become good. Fast, hilarious and full of comic art.
Best for: comic-style fun.
5. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
A dog with a human head fights crime. Graphic novels filled with jokes.
Best for: graphic novels.
6. Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce
Nate is a sixth grader who loves trouble. Packed with comics and jokes.
Best for: cartoons and chaos.
7. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid by Megan McDonald
Judy Moody's little brother worries about being short. Funny and sweet.
Best for: sibling humour.
8. Judy Moody Was in a Mood by Megan McDonald
Judy has a bad first day of third grade. Lively and funny.
Best for: big moods.
9. Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows
Two girls who seem very different become best friends. Gentle humour and real feelings.
Best for: friendship stories.
10. Horrible Harry in Room 2B by Suzy Kline
A third grader with a strange sense of humour has a heart of gold. Short and funny.
Best for: school chapter books.
11. Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist by Jim Benton
A girl who loves monsters and science starts school. Quirky and fun.
Best for: quirky scientists.
12. Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
Jack and Annie travel back in time to the age of dinosaurs. The first book in a famous series.
Best for: adventure and learning.
13. The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman
Twins are chased across the country by mysterious agents. A road-trip adventure by the same author.
Best for: more Gutman.
14. Frindle by Andrew Clements
A fifth grader invents a new word and sparks a school-wide craze. Smart and funny.
Best for: word games.
15. Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
A pig who loves toast becomes a hero. Short, silly and illustrated.
Best for: early chapter books.
How to Choose
For early readers who want short chapters, begin with Horrible Harry, Ivy + Bean or Mercy Watson to the Rescue. For comic-book style fun, choose Captain Underpants, Dog Man, The Bad Guys or Big Nate. If your child loves school stories, try Wayside School Is Falling Down, Frindle or Judy Moody. For an adventure by the same author, read The Genius Files. Most of these books are very funny, so they work well as read-alouds. A good strategy is to let your child pick the book that looks funniest, because enthusiasm matters more than reading level. Many families alternate: one chapter read aloud by the adult, the next by the child.
Related: Printable List of Weird School Books · Printable List of The Bailey School Kid Books
Frequently Asked Questions
What is My Weird School about?
A.J. tells funny stories about his strange teachers and principal at Ella Mentry School.
How many My Weird School books are there?
There are dozens of books across several series, including My Weird School Daze and My Weirder School.
What age is My Weird School for?
About 6 to 9.
Are they good for reluctant readers?
Yes, the short chapters and jokes help new readers keep going.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes, many of the books are available on audio.
Who wrote My Weird School?
Dan Gutman, with illustrations by Jim Paillot.
What reading level is My Weird School?
It is typically for grades 1 to 4, with short chapters and simple sentences.
What should my child read after My Weird School?
Wayside School, Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are common next steps.
Is Dan Gutman a former teacher?
No. He is a children's author who writes about school with a humourous eye and visits many schools each year.