Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!
Written by Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by Lane Smith
Reviewed by Stephanie R. (age 8) & Jamie P. (age 8)
Do you know about Diffendoofer School? The teachers in Diffendoofer School teach the students whatever they want to like "listening, smelling, laughing, yelling, tying knots, and how to tell chrysanthemums from miniature poodles." Another teacher teaches how to put a saddle on a lizard or a leopard. One of the teachers is Miss Bonkers. We think she is the nicest teacher in Diffendoofer School! They are all good teachers, but Miss Bonkers in the BEST. She even teaches "frogs to dance and pigs to put on underpants." The main character thinks that Miss Bonkers is almost the same as the other teachers, but "she is different-er than the rest." Their principal, Mr. Lowe, is the "very saddest man that any of us know," said the children. At the end of the book, the children learn that their school is in trouble. Read the book to find out if they can save their school.
We think the book is very good because the ending is surprising. Stephanie's favorite part is when the students find out that if they don't save their school, they'll have to go to a school in Flobertown. She likes this part because it is very funny, but you will have to read the book to find out why.
Jamie's favorite part is the ending of the book when the whole school sings the Diffendoofer song. She likes the song because it rhymes and it is funny. We like the illustrations because they are very colorful, exciting and zanny. The illustrations are our favorite part.
We recommend this book to teachers and to students who do not like real school. The teachers would probably get stressed because of their students. The kids would enjoy this book because the teachers make up fun rules (like having recess all day long). We also recommend this book to everyone because it is funny especially when the McMunches make some food that the kids don't recognize.