Wayside School series

About two years ago, I reread "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" by Louis Sachar for the first time in 20 years (second grade throw-back). I recently found the series as a box-set at Target and said to myself "why the hell not" (like one does about books--or at Target) and bought it. Like the one I read a few years ago, these are illustrated by Tim Heitz.

1) "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" ["There was a terrible mistake - Wayside School was built with one classroom on top of another, thirty stories high (The builder said he was sorry.) Maybe that's why all kinds of funny things happened at Wayside-especially on the thirteenth floor."]

2) "Wayside School is Falling Down" ["Louis the yard teacher starts off 30 tales of unusual students. Comic sketches precede every chapter. Todd brings a cute adorable plastic puppy who bites back when Joy steals it. Cafeteria lady Ms. Mush serves Mushroom Surprise that changes Ron. When Paul falls out the window, Leslie offers her pigtails to pull him back. On the 19th floor, invisible Allison finds Miss Zarves' class."]

3) "Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger" ["Before you enter Wayside School, you should know that it’s a thirty-story building with one classroom on each floor. Mrs. Jewls teaches the class on the thirtieth story. Miss Zarves teaches the class on the nineteenth story—except there is no nineteenth story, so there is no Miss Zarves. Understand? Good. Explain it to Calvin."]

The fourth book (a recent publication ("Wayside School Beneath a Cloud of Doom")) was sold separately (and probably the reason this 3-book set was on sale).
4) "Wayside School Beaneath a Cloud of Doom" [" Welcome back to Wayside School! Your favorite students and teachers are all here. That includes Sharie, who loves her striped-and-spotted umbrella more than anything; Kathy, who has a bad case of oppositosis; Jason, who has to read the longest book in the world; and the rest of Mrs. Jewls’s class on the thirtieth floor, who are busily collecting toenail clippings. Everyone is scrambling to prepare for the all-important Ultimate Test, but meanwhile, there is a mysterious Cloud of Doom looming above them…"]

Seriously, when life gets too serious, when things become too much, when you need a break from reality, children's/middle grade novels are a great way to go. You still have that relaxation from reading but it's...less taxing. The problems are usually trivial, the characters are happy and ready for growth, and the plot is simple as fuck. Plus, with the Wayside School series:  it's funny and silly and quirky and just plain weird--which should make you smile (even if you don't feel like it).

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