by Louis Sachar
First published 1996
The students return to Wayside School after spending 243 days in terrible schools while their building closed to remove cows. The kids discover chaos on every floor of their beloved school. Miss Much turns the 30th floor into an animal menagerie complete with dogs, cats, frogs, skunks, pigs, and an orange named Fido that creates mayhem. Mrs. Drazil's students conduct physics experiments by hurling coffeepots, potato sacks, pencil sharpeners, and light bulbs out windows to test which object hits the ground first. The biggest news arrives when Mrs. Jewls announces her pregnancy and reveals she plans to name the baby either Cootie Face or Bucket Head. A substitute teacher will take over her classroom duties. The students know this development spells trouble since substitute teachers at Wayside School never bring ordinary experiences. The school's return promises the same delightful absurdity that made it special before the cow incident forced its temporary closure.
Genres: fantasy, contemporary, comedy
Vibes: chaotic, humorous, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Wayside School
160 pages · Paperback · Harper Collins