2.5 stars

Here's the thing: I loved the Wayside School books as a kid. I checked this book out a couple times when I was in 3rd/4th grade, but could never understand any of the problems, and ended up thinking that I was just dumb.

I just re-read this book, and worked through the problems, and even my much older self had to look at a few hints and answers, and got a couple of them wrong!

There is a small amount of fun story-telling here and there, but it is mostly just math (there are a few logic problems, as well). This is great for kids who naturally excel in math, but for kids who are better at language (and especially young kids), the book will just be frustrating and discouraging.

These are some of the problems included in the book:

moth took = hmmm (reader figures out which numbers, 0-9, the letters in the problem each stand for) Answer: h=1, k=6, m=7, o=8, t=9

1. The answer to this statement is different from the answer to statement number 5 - T/F
2. Statement number 10 is false - T/F
3. This statement is true - T/F
4. Statement number 7 is true - T/F
5. At least two of the above statements are false - T/F
6. The answer to this statement is different from the answer to statement number 9 - T/F
7. Statement number 6 is false - T/F
8. Statement number 2 is true - T/F
9. The answers to statements 3 and 4 are different - T/F
10. The answer to statement number 3 is true - T/F
Answer: 1. True; 2. False; 3. True; 4. True; 5. False; 6. False; 7. True; 8. False; 9. False; 10. True ( )

Louis Sacher’ Wayside School books are popular among school kids since they are so wacky and fun, but this book really challenges the minds of the reader. See at Wayside School they don’t add and subtract with numbers, but with letters, so you need to use logic and code-breaking skills to figure out how to solve the equations. This would be an excellent book to keep in the classroom to use as supplemental logic problems for scaffolding or a bonus challenge problem of the week scenario. Highly entertaining and fun read! ( )

I learned I'm *not* as smart as a 5th grader!" I do well on the game show with its facts, but these puzzles are hard! Good brainteasers for clever kids and patient adults who can think 'laterally' as well as logically. I especially liked how the answer section is organized, first with a section of further clues, then with more text to encourage the reader to really really try, and finally the answers." ( )

Old Children's Book. Liked it as a kid, but haven't read it in years. ( )

for older kids, definitely a fun way to incorporate math into reading. I found myself having a great time figuring out the puzzles! ( )