Dan Gutman

  • 76

    Catalog books

  • 48

    Works

  • 1995 to 2023

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Dan Gutman writes lively, kid-friendly chapter books that mix humor and classroom chaos. The My Weird School series captures quirky teachers, silly situations, and fast-paced, short chapters that appeal to beginning independent readers and reluctant readers alike.

Miss Holly Is Too Jolly! exemplifies Gutman’s approach: exaggerated characters, punchy dialogue, and gag-driven plots that keep young readers turning pages. His books prioritize laugh-out-loud moments and clear, accessible text that build reading confidence while delivering nonstop fun.

Best Place To Start

Abner & Me (Baseball Card Adventures)

Harpercollins Childrens Books • 2007 • quick commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: My Weird School series • Short, silly chapter books • Humorous school-based stories

Genres and themes: Children’s humor • Early chapter books • School life • Silly characters

Who this author is best for: Fast-paced, joke-filled chapters for reluctant or newly independent readers who like gross-out and absurd humor.

Start with any My Weird School book — they're standalone and consistent in tone — and pick by funny-looking cover or subtitle.

Top Books To Start With

  1. Abner & Me (Baseball Card Adventures)

    Harpercollins Childrens Books • 2007 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2007 • 166 pages.

  2. Casey Back At Bat

    Harpercollins Childrens Books • 2007 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2007 • 32 pages.

  3. My Weird School #14: Miss Holly Is Too Jolly! (My Weird School)

    Harpercollins Childrens Books • 2006 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2006 • 112 pages.

  4. Explorers, presidents, and toilets

    HarperCollins Publishers • 2017 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2017 • 185 pages.

  5. Space, humans, and farts

    HarperCollins Publishers • 2017 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2017 • 178 pages.

  6. Bummer in the Summer!

    HarperCollins Publishers Limited • 2019 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2019 • 144 pages.

  7. Rappy Goes to the Library

    HarperCollins Publishers • 2017 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2017 • 32 pages.

  8. The Lincoln project

    N • 2016 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  9. Ms. Cuddy is nutty!

    HarperCollins Publishers • 2015 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2015 • 106 pages.

  10. Getting Air

    Aladdin • 2008 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2008 • 240 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • Casey Back At Bat is the easier short commitment, while Abner & Me (Baseball Card Adventures) asks for more reading time up front.

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