Families who loved Miss Brown Is Upside Down! by Dan Gutman often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when you want to encourage a child who is frustrated by rigid rules or who thinks school is boring. It is particularly effective for children who may not see themselves as traditionally smart but have a high capacity for creative problem solving. Through the lens of the hilariously unreliable narrator A.J., the story celebrates the power of out of the box thinking and the importance of teamwork when facing a challenge. In this installment of the My Weirdest School series, the Ella Mentry students prepare for the Brain Games, a competition where they must build complex structures and machines like toothpick bridges and remote control cars. Led by the eccentric and creative Miss Brown, the class learns that innovation often requires looking at things from a different perspective (literally). It is a lighthearted, fast-paced read that validates the messy, experimental side of learning, making it a perfect choice for reluctant readers who enjoy humor and slapstick energy.