Clementine likes to know what the rules are, especially at school. That way she can keep herself from making mistakes. When her regular teacher, Mr. DMatz, becomes a finalist for the Adventures for Teachers Contest and leaves school for a week, Clementine has to get used to the rules of her new substitute teacher…and she doesn’t understand them one bit.

When the Principal announces that Clementine and her friends can help Mr. D’Matz win the Adventures for Teachers Contest by writing a recommendation letter for him, Clementine has a better idea, she’ll write a letter alright, a great letter, a letter that will guarantee he loses – and get rid of that awful substitute teacher forever. Author: Sara Pennypacker

• Read Chapter One Clementine’s Letter
• Watch a Longer Video Interview with Sara Pennypacker
• Official Sara Pennypacker Website
• Clementine’s Letter on CD

Some more Clementine stories:

Mrs. Wurtz leaves a blank notebook in her class’s writer’s corner. The kids are supposed to write in it, and write whatever they want. The only rule is that each person who writes in the book must sign his or her name. It’s fun to read the entries and look at the pictures the kids draw. At first, you don’t know who is who, but as you read you can tell who the kids are by their style of writing and the kind of pictures they draw. The kids reveal their feelings and even fight with each other. Why do boys have to write about puke and boogers and stuff like that? That’s what the girls want to know! In the end, they work out their classroom problems with words. What a great idea! Writing about your feelings is a great way to work things out in your own head. Author: Mary Amato

If you like Dear Dumb Diary (Author: Jim Benton) or Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Author Jeff Kinney), try reading about the kids in this story. Speaking of Dear Dumb Diary, book #7 is out Dear Dumb Diary, Never Underestimate Your Dumbness.

• Funbrain: Amelia Writes Again
• Funbrain: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg’s Journal
• Scholastic: Dear Dumb Diary

Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never, ever watched television.  He knows what a telephone is, but he doesn’t have one at home and has only talked on one a couple times.  He has never been in school.  Cap has spent his entire life on a farm commune with his grandma, and no one else.  When Cap’s grandma ends up in the hospital, he has no choice but to enroll in the local public middle school.

The only person happy to see Cap’s long hair, beads & sandals made out of corn husks is Hugh, the school oddball, who is more than happy to have Cap take his place as the official “wedgie receiver”.  Cap’s odd ways and disinterest in conforming catch the attention of the school bully, or “wedgie giver,” who chooses Cap as the year’s eighth grade president, an honor bestowed on the kid most likely to be made fun of all year.  Cap’s reaction to the bully’s pranks, and to the job of class president, takes everyone by surprise, especially the bully himself.  Long hair and beads never looked so good. Author: Gordon Korman

• Read Chapter One of Schooled
• Watch an interview with Gordon Korman (He published his first book at 14!)
• Schooled on CD
• What is Bullying?
• Planet Tolerance
• Tie Dye Rainbow Tees
• Tie Dyed Socks

Schooled Web Comic Used With Permission:

That wimp Greg Heffley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid is back. In Rodrick Rules, Greg tells us about his summer vacation and his plan to stay out of trouble when he returns to middle school. (I’m pretty sure he can’t do it!) His bigger problem though, is keeping his brother Rodrick from telling everyone about Greg’s most embarrassing experience of the summer. If you missed Greg’s first story, you can read it online on Funbrain. You can also watch an interview with Jeff Kinney, the author. He shares everything you ever wanted to know about Greg and his story. Author: Jeff Kinney