School Stories

In Andrew Clements’ book The School Story, one character says that a school story is “a short novel about kids and stuff that happens mostly at school.” I asked a friend of mine who works in children’s publishing if this type of story really is one of the most popular genres in children’s literature as Clements implies in his book. She said that Clements is an expert at the school story and would know. I get it. These books are typically humorous and easy for children to read because they portray a world that the reader knows well– life at school. Here are a few titles that have received rave reviews from my children, my children’s friends, and my students. What other titles get a gold star?

Chapter Books for Upper Elementary Grades

• Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger
• Blubber by Judy Blume
• Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
• Lunch Money, The School Story, No Talking, Frindle, or others by Andrew Clements
• The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
• 7th Level by Jody Feldman
• Double Dog Dare by Lisa Graff
• The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
• Loser by Jerry Spinelli
• Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler

Chapter Books for Primary Grades

• Bailey School Kids series by Marcia T. Jones
• Marty McGuire series by Kate Messner
• Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park
• Jigsaw Jones Mystery series by James Preller

Picture Books

• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
• Miss Nelson series by James Marshall
• David Goes to School by David Shannon
• Miss Bindergarten books by Joseph Slate
• How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Tolen and Teague
• How the Second Grade Got $8205.50 to Visit the Statue of Liberty by Nathan Zimelman