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Jan 23, 2015LibrLdyMapleValley rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Tripping Over the Lunch Lady and Other School Stories is a book of short stories written by some big name authors like Avi, Sarah Weeks, and David Lubar. They're only a few pages each and wrap up with brief "school reports" about the author in which they share little personal jewels like what their favorite and least favorite classes were, best field trip, best memory, worst smell (some of these the readers will recognize immediately and gag). The reading level on these is around early 4th grade but the interest level will range from 3rd to 8th grade easily. Award winning author Angela Johnson wrote the first (and funniest) entry that gave the book its title. In her story we meet Jinx. I'll let Jinx do his own self description so you get a feel for the way this story reads: "You know how people say that some folks can't walk and chew gum at the same time? Oh yeah, they were talking about me. I fall down stairs and roll out of bed onto the floor. I drop things on my toes and get trapped in closets. I've broken my arm making cookies. Don't ask." For someone as dangerously uncoordinated as Jinx P.E. class and the evil trampoline is torture and anyone standing close by is in mortal danger. The P.E. teacher backs away quickly whenever Jinx walks up to him... probably because of the broken nose incident but we won't go into that here. After watching a show about square dancing Jinx is suddenly taken with the idea that it would be the answer to all problems. Jinx envisions a glorious future where square dancing would end unhappiness in the world and spread love all over the planet. No one can convince Jinx that square dancing will be just as dangerous as the trampoline (and baseball, and volleyball and basketball), and they try really hard too. Then the day comes when square dancing becomes a reality... the two day hospital stay really wasn't too bad. Each author brings their own style and sense of fun to the stories and kids will recognize many of the situations and groan in sympathy or just flat out laugh. The stories are short, fun and engaging and would be fabulous for reading aloud in the classroom.