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
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Thank you for this list of books! It is a great way to figure out what I want to read to my students.