The most recommended books about school

Who picked these books? Meet our 458 experts.

458 authors created a book list connected to school, and here are their favorite school books.
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Book cover of Peanut

Andrea Pyros Author Of My Year of Epic Rock

From my list on food allergies.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m a kidlit author myself. Iā€™ve written two middle-grade novels, one of which is all about having a food allergy, but my interest in food allergies is all due to my first kid. Amelia was born with multiple allergies to common ingredients like eggs and dairy. At first it was hard! Figuring out how to cook for her at home and keep her safe when she was in school or at a friendā€™s house felt daunting and frightening, so we turned to books for advice, recipes, and education for the entire family. Even if your reader isnā€™t the one with allergies, theyā€™ve no doubt got a classmate or family member who does. 

Andrea's book list on food allergies

Andrea Pyros Why did Andrea love this book?

A graphic novel for teens, Peanut tells the story of a new girl in town who decides that she needs something to make her interesting to her new high school classmates. So Sadie pretends to have a peanut allergy. Sure, that might make her interesting, but when her lie starts to grow like a snowball rolling down a mountain, Sadieā€™s not sure how sheā€™ll get out of this disaster of her own making.

By Ayun Halliday, Paul Hoppe (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Peanut as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

Before you write me off as a delusional psycho, think about what it's like to be thrown into a situation where everyone knows everyone... and no one knows you. Sadie has the perfect plan to snag some friends when she transfers to Plainfield Highā€”pretend to have a peanut allergy. But what happens when you have to hand in that student health form your unsuspecting mom was supposed to fill out? And what if your new friends want to come over and your mom serves them snacks? (Peanut butter sandwich, anyone?) And then there's the bake sale, when your teacher thinksā€¦


Book cover of El Deafo

Stan Mack Author Of Janet & Me: An Illustrated Story of Love and Loss

From my list on graphic auto-fiction, from memoir to magic realism.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I was starting out as an illustrator, I stumbled into two art director jobs, first at the innovative New York Herald Tribune and then at The New York Times. Working with great journalists gave me the startling idea that a comic strip could have no better subject matter than real life. This led me to create my popular comic strip ā€œStan Mackā€™s Real Life Funnies,ā€ which ran in The Village Voice and reported on the rowdy New York city of the '70s and ā€˜80s. Back then, I was alone in combining real-life stories with comics; today many artist-writers use the comic strip format to tell complex and multilayered true stories of the human experience.

Stan's book list on graphic auto-fiction, from memoir to magic realism

Stan Mack Why did Stan love this book?

My wife, a teacher to the deaf and hard of hearing, brought home a graphic childrenā€™s book, El Deafo, which she and her kids loved. Based on Bell's own life, itā€™s about a young girl coming to grips with her sudden deafness. As a graphic artist who specializes in adult works, I was not initially drawn to this young girlā€™s story, nor to Bellā€™s colorful cartoony panels. But one day, I picked up my wifeā€™s copy and discovered a charming story that swept me along, the art surprisingly sophisticated and effective. As different as my graphic memoir is from Bellā€™s, my memoir is also about coping with adversity, and I hope itā€™s as compelling as El Deafo

By Cece Bell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked El Deafo as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

El Deafo is a funny, deeply honest graphic novel memoir for middle graders. It chronicles the author's hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with a powerful and very awkward hearing aid called the Phonic Ear. It gives her the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her, Phonic Ear and all. Finally, she is able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become "El Deafo, Listener for All." And more importantly, declare a placeā€¦


Book cover of Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1

Ken Lamug Author Of Born to Be Bad

From my list on unexpected superheroes.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a professional dabbler who has tried things from beekeeping, duck herding, race car driving, coding, and filmmaking. But I am famously known as the author and illustrator of imaginative and fun childrenā€™s books and comics. My latest book is the hilarious supervillain graphic novel Mischief and Mayhem. Itā€™s a story about Missy who gets kicked out of superhero boot camp and ends up as a supervillain (a nice and friendly one). Iā€™ve always enjoyed reading about unexpected heroes and characters who flip the script. We all have challenges in our lives and when we face them head-on is when we truly find the heroes in ourselves.

Ken's book list on unexpected superheroes

Ken Lamug Why did Ken love this book?

The place you least expect for a hero to turn up is the lunchroom and thatā€™s exactly what we get here. In this issue of a long-running series Lunch Lady and Betty, her assistant, investigate the strange case of a missing teacher, a creepy substitute, and how this all connects with the Teacher of the Year award. Scenes in the story revolve around the school which will make it relatable to school-going readers. Kids will have a new respect for people around them as they identify who could potentially be a hero in their own small way. 

By Jarrett J. Krosoczka,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

From the author of National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo.

Serving justice . . . and lunch!

Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isnā€™t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesnā€™t just serve sloppy joesā€”she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, itā€™s no match for LUNCH LADY!


Book cover of Peanut
Book cover of El Deafo
Book cover of Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1

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