Mr. Bambuckle: Rule the School

Gr 2-4–The students in classroom 12B at Blue Valley School have never had a teacher like Mr. Bambuckle. When Miss Schlump, their former teacher, falls in love with a helicopter pilot and moves to Switzerland, she is replaced with the bacon-cooking, unicycle-riding Mr. Bambuckle. The class’s day takes an immediate turn towards fun as they spend their time storytelling, inventing apps, and tackling creative problem-solving. The tales are tall, the homework is unique, and the tricks up this teacher’s sleeves are often magical and mostly hilarious. No one is complaining—that is, almost no one. If Principal Sternblast had his way, he’d find a replacement as soon as possible. The students are in no rush for a new teacher and it looks like they might get their way...for now. This illustrated novel, the first of a proposed series, is full of laughs and high jinks that will enthrall readers. The cartoon-style illustrations add to the text’s light, humorous tone. Even in the more serious moments, readers will know that silliness is not far away. Occasionally, the time line and plot can be hard to follow amongst side features including interviews, notes passed back and forth, and homework samples.