What do you think?
The Dunderheads
The Dunderheads
Dunderheads, unite! A tyrannical teacher gets her just due in a delightfully
subversive, outrageously funny tale by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman.
Miss Breakbone hates kids. Especially the time-squandering, mindwandering, doodling, dozing dunderheads in her class. But when she confiscates Junkyard’s crucial fi nd, she fi nally goes too far. Enter Wheels (and his souped-up bike with forty-eight extra gears), Pencil (who can draw anything from memory), Spider (look up and you’ll fi nd him), and their fellow misfi ts in a spectacular display of teamwork aimed at teaching Miss Breakbone a lesson she won’t soon forget. From the incomparable Paul Fleischman comes a winning cast of underdogs — and one of the most terrifying teachers you’ll ever meet — brought to vivid life in David Roberts’s quirky, hilarious illustrations.
From the Hardcover edition.
subversive, outrageously funny tale by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman.
Miss Breakbone hates kids. Especially the time-squandering, mindwandering, doodling, dozing dunderheads in her class. But when she confiscates Junkyard’s crucial fi nd, she fi nally goes too far. Enter Wheels (and his souped-up bike with forty-eight extra gears), Pencil (who can draw anything from memory), Spider (look up and you’ll fi nd him), and their fellow misfi ts in a spectacular display of teamwork aimed at teaching Miss Breakbone a lesson she won’t soon forget. From the incomparable Paul Fleischman comes a winning cast of underdogs — and one of the most terrifying teachers you’ll ever meet — brought to vivid life in David Roberts’s quirky, hilarious illustrations.
From the Hardcover edition.
56 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Paul Fleischman
68 books203 followers Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation.
In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
December 15, 2009
For what it is, I think this book is nearly perfect. The text and illustrations could each work independently and tell a story on their own, and together they give each other added depth and additional life.
Einstein is our first person narrator with a simple yet distinct voice and personality who tells the story of his class's confrontation with their mean and overbearing teacher (Miss Breakbone). Each classmate is defined by a quirky personality trait and/or defining interest (Wheels, Spitball, Google-Eyes) that would usually be portrayed as a negative but here makes each an indispensable member of the team on their secret mission. Everyone is special and respected, but in the least saccharine way possible. And I don't think it's a spoiler to say they succeed in their mission to put one over on the teacher, which the target early elementary readers will love.
Even better than the text is the art, which is stylized and cartoonish and simply conveys the immediate story, but I found myself studying all the little details for the additional jokes--Miss Breakbone's classroom walls are covered in posters, but each one shares information about some kind of killer animal; one of the gargoyle statues on the wall around her house is picking its nose; movie posters for "East Side Anecdote" and "An Australian Werewolf in Luton." As with the text, the characters are each rendered as uniquely distinguishable by their traits in fun ways that never demean them. I loved this one and think kids will too.
Einstein is our first person narrator with a simple yet distinct voice and personality who tells the story of his class's confrontation with their mean and overbearing teacher (Miss Breakbone). Each classmate is defined by a quirky personality trait and/or defining interest (Wheels, Spitball, Google-Eyes) that would usually be portrayed as a negative but here makes each an indispensable member of the team on their secret mission. Everyone is special and respected, but in the least saccharine way possible. And I don't think it's a spoiler to say they succeed in their mission to put one over on the teacher, which the target early elementary readers will love.
Even better than the text is the art, which is stylized and cartoonish and simply conveys the immediate story, but I found myself studying all the little details for the additional jokes--Miss Breakbone's classroom walls are covered in posters, but each one shares information about some kind of killer animal; one of the gargoyle statues on the wall around her house is picking its nose; movie posters for "East Side Anecdote" and "An Australian Werewolf in Luton." As with the text, the characters are each rendered as uniquely distinguishable by their traits in fun ways that never demean them. I loved this one and think kids will too.
December 8, 2011
Sid Fleischman's last book? In any event, perceptive as always, and clever. I don't usually love a story that's too lopsided in the kids vs. the grownups dept. You know - those stories that glorify the talents of the kids in contrast to the idiotically-behaving grownups in their lives. However, my memories of an awful, angry, and utterly unfair and inflexible junior high/senior high substitute teacher fit quite nicely into the mold of Miss Breakbone, Fleischman's very unlikeable teacher. If you've ever had a teacher like that (and I hope you haven't), you root for the "Dunderheads", the students whose collective talents trump Miss Breakbone's and score a big "gotcha back" in their quest to repossess one of the student's possessions. Whimsically illustrated, juxtaposing black, white, and grey against color for effect, and creating it's own moving story in its layout, the art is it's own transitional statement. Here's a picture book format for independent readers (ages 7-9) that looks and speaks a little like graphic novels for older kids.
December 3, 2018
This book was a pleasant surprise, I didn't think I would enjoy it half as much as I did. The villan in the book is Miss Breakbone who reminded me of Miss Trunchable from Matilda. She liked to confiscate childrens possessions and make them cry. Then one day the children she so completely underestimated at the start of the year, all make a plan to get some special possessions and return them to their owners.
The book is about each of the individual children within the text having their own unique talents which help them pull off the break in to Miss Breakbones house.
Lovely text with great detailed illustrations!
The book is about each of the individual children within the text having their own unique talents which help them pull off the break in to Miss Breakbones house.
Lovely text with great detailed illustrations!
July 22, 2009
From my blog (Of Books and Boys):
Who was the worst, the meanest, teacher you ever had? I once knew one that made a girl clean up her own mess when she got sick in class. A first grader! And another mountain of a man who’d bellow from the front table anytime he thought someone wasn’t paying attention. “Paul! Get up here! Bring your notebook!” And if that notebook wasn’t word-for-word synced with the overhead transparency, he’d tear it up and roar, “Get out of here! “F” for the day!” And the poor kid would find himself with an extra, impromptu study hall.
Well, those two have nothing on Miss Breakbone from Paul Fleischman’s The Dunderheads. Miss Breakbone has a real alligator for her alligator bag. She decorates her classroom with pictures of vicious predators. She gives herself gold stars when she makes kids cry. She has an electric chair. And, according to Miss Breakbone, she has never taught “such a scraping-together of fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don’t-knowing dunderheads!”"
But Miss Breakbone goes too far one day when she confiscates a trash-to-treasure cat statue from one of her students, Theodore, who was saving it for his mother’s birthday present. Theodore, aka “Junkyard”, turns to our hero and narrator, the brilliant strategist “Einstein,” for help. Einstein enlists the expertise of the whole class to retrieve the cat from Miss Breakbone’s house. From “Hollywood” (who has watched every movie 11 times), to “Clips” (”His reading scores were low. His math scores were worse. But if they tested for paper-clip chains…”) to “Wheels” (who’s a bicycling nut), to “Pencil” (who can draw perfectly from memory), to “Spider” (who can climb anything), Einstein will need every Dunderhead and their crazy micro-talent to pull off the caper.
At 56 pages, The Dunderheads is longer than a typical picture book, and, while there’s enough action that younger kids will enjoy it, it’s audience really is older elementary kids with a little more experience under their belts. What kid hasn’t daydreamed of getting back at an adult who has done them wrong? This books taps right into that: readers can’t help but root for the underdog Dunderheads as they scheme to defeat evil Miss Breakbone.
Careful readers (especially grown-up ones) will find even more fun in the illustrations by David Roberts. Hollywood has posters up of a “West Side Anecdote.” One of Miss Breakbone’s gargoyles is yawning; the other is picking its nose. Miss Breakbone has a skull for a bedlamp. And my favorite: the fallen queen from Einstein’s chess board on the title page. That says it all, right there: “The Dunderheads were here!”
And finally, the discussion question that’s begging to be asked after reading this book: What would your classroom nickname be (have been)?
Who was the worst, the meanest, teacher you ever had? I once knew one that made a girl clean up her own mess when she got sick in class. A first grader! And another mountain of a man who’d bellow from the front table anytime he thought someone wasn’t paying attention. “Paul! Get up here! Bring your notebook!” And if that notebook wasn’t word-for-word synced with the overhead transparency, he’d tear it up and roar, “Get out of here! “F” for the day!” And the poor kid would find himself with an extra, impromptu study hall.
Well, those two have nothing on Miss Breakbone from Paul Fleischman’s The Dunderheads. Miss Breakbone has a real alligator for her alligator bag. She decorates her classroom with pictures of vicious predators. She gives herself gold stars when she makes kids cry. She has an electric chair. And, according to Miss Breakbone, she has never taught “such a scraping-together of fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don’t-knowing dunderheads!”"
But Miss Breakbone goes too far one day when she confiscates a trash-to-treasure cat statue from one of her students, Theodore, who was saving it for his mother’s birthday present. Theodore, aka “Junkyard”, turns to our hero and narrator, the brilliant strategist “Einstein,” for help. Einstein enlists the expertise of the whole class to retrieve the cat from Miss Breakbone’s house. From “Hollywood” (who has watched every movie 11 times), to “Clips” (”His reading scores were low. His math scores were worse. But if they tested for paper-clip chains…”) to “Wheels” (who’s a bicycling nut), to “Pencil” (who can draw perfectly from memory), to “Spider” (who can climb anything), Einstein will need every Dunderhead and their crazy micro-talent to pull off the caper.
At 56 pages, The Dunderheads is longer than a typical picture book, and, while there’s enough action that younger kids will enjoy it, it’s audience really is older elementary kids with a little more experience under their belts. What kid hasn’t daydreamed of getting back at an adult who has done them wrong? This books taps right into that: readers can’t help but root for the underdog Dunderheads as they scheme to defeat evil Miss Breakbone.
Careful readers (especially grown-up ones) will find even more fun in the illustrations by David Roberts. Hollywood has posters up of a “West Side Anecdote.” One of Miss Breakbone’s gargoyles is yawning; the other is picking its nose. Miss Breakbone has a skull for a bedlamp. And my favorite: the fallen queen from Einstein’s chess board on the title page. That says it all, right there: “The Dunderheads were here!”
And finally, the discussion question that’s begging to be asked after reading this book: What would your classroom nickname be (have been)?
October 29, 2009
Miss Breakbone is an evil teacher to rival Miss Trunchbull or Viola Swamp. She gives herself a gold star every time she makes a kid cry. And she thinks her students are just dunderheads. But when Miss Breakbone crosses the line, the so-called Dunderheads decide to get back what's theirs.
This is a fun book that kids will pore over, soaking up every interesting detail in the illustrations. I'd gladly hand it to fans of Roald Dahl or the Black Lagoon series. It's a little more than a picture book, but a little less than a chapter book, so I'm not sure where you'd shelve it and it'll probably need some hand-selling. But I think the kids who do pick it up will be drawn in by the multi-talented dunderheads' elaborate plan for revenge.
This is a fun book that kids will pore over, soaking up every interesting detail in the illustrations. I'd gladly hand it to fans of Roald Dahl or the Black Lagoon series. It's a little more than a picture book, but a little less than a chapter book, so I'm not sure where you'd shelve it and it'll probably need some hand-selling. But I think the kids who do pick it up will be drawn in by the multi-talented dunderheads' elaborate plan for revenge.
February 27, 2014
The Dunderheads was a light-hearted picture book that reminded me of Ocean’s 11 but with children. Each student was nicknamed for their special talent and worked together to break into the evil teacher’s house to take back the precious cat she had stolen from one of her students. Through their seeking of justice we are reminded that every individual is intelligent in different and unique ways. The lessons learned are never judge and never underestimate. A fun and fast read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 15, 2010This book reminds me of a kid version of "Ocean's Eleven."
February 7, 2018
i think it was good!!
August 4, 2011
Reading Comics shouldn’t be seen as an act of rebellion and reading Picture Books post second grade shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment. Especially with the works of Shaun Tan residing so comfortably on grown-up shelves. Course, it doesn’t hurt when the book isn’t formatted for two laps and is more popularly categorized as a “graphic novel.” The daughter (newly 11) and I huddled over the pages of Paul Fleischman authored and David Roberts illustrated The Dunderheads—a wonderful hybrid read for those of us who still love picture books after we’ve become proficient readers and avid fans of the comic form.
The Dunderheads is narrated by the boy who sits at his desk with a chess set, Einstein. It is obvious he is familiar with strategy, understanding how to make the diverse pieces at hand work to his advantage. Each of the “dunderheads” has a unique talent and they each have a role to play in recovering Theodore’s (aka Junkyard) present for his mother, confiscated by Miss Breakbone who likes to hock such items to fund her evil lifestyle.
Will you ever see a classroom with this range in talent? Yes. And you just never know when that long-distance spitter will come in handy, or when someone’s obsession may prove crucial in a heist–or in response to a hostile learning environment.
Miss Breakbone brings to mind Madame Medusa from The Rescuers (1977) and Ms. Trunchbull from Matilda (1996). Her exaggerated bosom in theme with the rest of the presumptions the read interrogates; Miss Breakbone is hardly maternal.
Roberts’s (The Dumpster Diver) drawings, with their delicate lines and sly cultural references (Miss Breakbone looks like a cold war — era prison guard), convey just the right note of dastardly charm. ~Publisher’s Weekly
The Dunderheads proves and exceptional balance of great storytelling in the text and image. Both Fleischman and Roberts allow for the right amount of wit and daring in this combined effort to subvert an establishment: both in story form and social implication. Each revel in their own intelligence and obsession; creating a book that demands its own attention (neither conforming to strict panel or open image/text formats); telling a story that validates and encourages individuality and cooperation. I see The Dunderheads as being a fantastic classroom read.
***********
The pop cultural references are begging for an audience older than ten, wouldn’t you say? Sean and I were both charmed by the illustrations Roberts provides. Natalya and I both highly recommend this read.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
The Dunderheads is narrated by the boy who sits at his desk with a chess set, Einstein. It is obvious he is familiar with strategy, understanding how to make the diverse pieces at hand work to his advantage. Each of the “dunderheads” has a unique talent and they each have a role to play in recovering Theodore’s (aka Junkyard) present for his mother, confiscated by Miss Breakbone who likes to hock such items to fund her evil lifestyle.
Will you ever see a classroom with this range in talent? Yes. And you just never know when that long-distance spitter will come in handy, or when someone’s obsession may prove crucial in a heist–or in response to a hostile learning environment.
Miss Breakbone brings to mind Madame Medusa from The Rescuers (1977) and Ms. Trunchbull from Matilda (1996). Her exaggerated bosom in theme with the rest of the presumptions the read interrogates; Miss Breakbone is hardly maternal.
Roberts’s (The Dumpster Diver) drawings, with their delicate lines and sly cultural references (Miss Breakbone looks like a cold war — era prison guard), convey just the right note of dastardly charm. ~Publisher’s Weekly
The Dunderheads proves and exceptional balance of great storytelling in the text and image. Both Fleischman and Roberts allow for the right amount of wit and daring in this combined effort to subvert an establishment: both in story form and social implication. Each revel in their own intelligence and obsession; creating a book that demands its own attention (neither conforming to strict panel or open image/text formats); telling a story that validates and encourages individuality and cooperation. I see The Dunderheads as being a fantastic classroom read.
***********
The pop cultural references are begging for an audience older than ten, wouldn’t you say? Sean and I were both charmed by the illustrations Roberts provides. Natalya and I both highly recommend this read.
L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
January 22, 2016
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by David Roberts
This book is about a group of students, the Dunderheads, as the teacher has branded them, who are constantly victimized by their cruel teacher, Miss Breakbone. Miss Breakbone specializes in making the children cry, and taking their beloved things. One day, she decided to not only take Theodore’s (Junkyard) magnifying glass, but also a one-eared cat he had found as a birthday present for his mother. This was the last straw and the kids set out to teach Miss Breakbone a lesson. The rest of the book follows them as they make a plan to get their things back. Each child has a unique skill set. And when they all work together as a team, utilizing all of these special skills, they are able to sneak into Miss Breakbone’s house and get all their things back. Most importantly, they were able to get the cat back in time for Junkyard to give it to his mother for her birthday.
This is a great book that shows these children, branded by Miss Breakbone as “fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don’t-knowing dunderheads”, are able to use teamwork, bravery, friendship, and collaboration to complete their mission of revenge on their cruel teacher. This book will make you root for the underdogs – the misfits. The moral of the story is that everybody is valuable and useful, even if they may seem out of the ordinary and quirky. Another part to the moral is about teamwork and using your own special creativity to help alongside others to accomplish a goal.
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. There are so many details on each page that you have to stop and look at each one closely to fully grasp it. The illustrations are really amazing, hilarious, and tell a lot of the story by themselves. I would recommend this book to elementary aged children. Due to the nature of some of the illustrations (frightening teacher, electric chair, vicious guard dogs), this book could be a little scary for anyone under the age of six. I also would recommend this for a child who loves looking at detailed pictures. The Dunderheads would be a good book to help children transition from picture books to chapter books. I had my mom read this book also, and she thoroughly enjoyed it too. She was so engrossed in the book. She kept commenting that she could not wait to see how it ended, and also said she would love to read it again. I would definitely rate this book with five stars, and I cannot wait to read it with the second grader I babysit!
This book is about a group of students, the Dunderheads, as the teacher has branded them, who are constantly victimized by their cruel teacher, Miss Breakbone. Miss Breakbone specializes in making the children cry, and taking their beloved things. One day, she decided to not only take Theodore’s (Junkyard) magnifying glass, but also a one-eared cat he had found as a birthday present for his mother. This was the last straw and the kids set out to teach Miss Breakbone a lesson. The rest of the book follows them as they make a plan to get their things back. Each child has a unique skill set. And when they all work together as a team, utilizing all of these special skills, they are able to sneak into Miss Breakbone’s house and get all their things back. Most importantly, they were able to get the cat back in time for Junkyard to give it to his mother for her birthday.
This is a great book that shows these children, branded by Miss Breakbone as “fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don’t-knowing dunderheads”, are able to use teamwork, bravery, friendship, and collaboration to complete their mission of revenge on their cruel teacher. This book will make you root for the underdogs – the misfits. The moral of the story is that everybody is valuable and useful, even if they may seem out of the ordinary and quirky. Another part to the moral is about teamwork and using your own special creativity to help alongside others to accomplish a goal.
I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book. There are so many details on each page that you have to stop and look at each one closely to fully grasp it. The illustrations are really amazing, hilarious, and tell a lot of the story by themselves. I would recommend this book to elementary aged children. Due to the nature of some of the illustrations (frightening teacher, electric chair, vicious guard dogs), this book could be a little scary for anyone under the age of six. I also would recommend this for a child who loves looking at detailed pictures. The Dunderheads would be a good book to help children transition from picture books to chapter books. I had my mom read this book also, and she thoroughly enjoyed it too. She was so engrossed in the book. She kept commenting that she could not wait to see how it ended, and also said she would love to read it again. I would definitely rate this book with five stars, and I cannot wait to read it with the second grader I babysit!
June 19, 2009
Clean lines, comical details and snappy, generous first person narration sweep us into this suspenseful tale of strategy, solidarity and overlooked superpowers.
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
Other books mentioned:
Iggy Peck, Architect
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Miss Nelson is Missing
More independent thinkers on JOMB:
Willow
Odd Velvet
Suki’s Kimono
Ruby’s Wish
Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick
Silly Tilly
more here.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show
You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.
Other books mentioned:
Iggy Peck, Architect
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Miss Nelson is Missing
More independent thinkers on JOMB:
Willow
Odd Velvet
Suki’s Kimono
Ruby’s Wish
Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick
Silly Tilly
more here.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show
October 25, 2010
Dunderheads, unite! A tyrannical teacher gets her just due in a delightfully subversive, outrageously funny tale by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman.
Miss Breakbone hates kids. Especially the time-squandering, mindwandering, doodling, dozing dunderheads in her class. But when she confiscates Junkyard’s crucial find, she finally goes too far. Enter Wheels (and his souped-up bike with forty-eight extra gears), Pencil (who can draw anything from memory), Spider (look up & you’ll find him), & their fellow misfits in a spectacular display of teamwork aimed at teaching Miss Breakbone a lesson she won’t soon forget. From Paul Fleischman comes a winning cast of underdogs — & one of the most terrifying teachers you’ll ever meet — brought to vivid life in David Roberts’s quirky, hilarious illustrations. (Goodreads summary)
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman, & illustrated by David Roberts, is a wonderfully funny subversive students-against-the-evil-teacher school story for newly independent or reluctant readers. Miss Breakbone is one of the meanest teachers ever (think Miss Trunchbull or Viola Swamp)! She meets her match with her new class after she makes four mistakes: 1: The insult. 2: No eye for talent. 3: The outrage. and 4: The Dare.
The misfit group of students all possess special traits or interests (and descriptive nicknames) that allow a team to be selected (think Mission: Impossible, or Oceans Eleven). The text has excellent first poerson narration, the illustrations are detailed with many visual clues, and together they add up to laughter & a book that might be checked out constantly.
The illustrations were done in watercolor, pen & ink and are a delight to study for quirky details. The posters in Miss Breakbone's classroom, for example, feature dangerous animals and weapons. Spider's house has plenty of high interest details.
I recommend this book for independent readers who still enjoy (or want) illustrations and for reluctant readers. Ages 5-6 for a read aloud & ages 6-8 for independent readers.
Miss Breakbone hates kids. Especially the time-squandering, mindwandering, doodling, dozing dunderheads in her class. But when she confiscates Junkyard’s crucial find, she finally goes too far. Enter Wheels (and his souped-up bike with forty-eight extra gears), Pencil (who can draw anything from memory), Spider (look up & you’ll find him), & their fellow misfits in a spectacular display of teamwork aimed at teaching Miss Breakbone a lesson she won’t soon forget. From Paul Fleischman comes a winning cast of underdogs — & one of the most terrifying teachers you’ll ever meet — brought to vivid life in David Roberts’s quirky, hilarious illustrations. (Goodreads summary)
The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman, & illustrated by David Roberts, is a wonderfully funny subversive students-against-the-evil-teacher school story for newly independent or reluctant readers. Miss Breakbone is one of the meanest teachers ever (think Miss Trunchbull or Viola Swamp)! She meets her match with her new class after she makes four mistakes: 1: The insult. 2: No eye for talent. 3: The outrage. and 4: The Dare.
The misfit group of students all possess special traits or interests (and descriptive nicknames) that allow a team to be selected (think Mission: Impossible, or Oceans Eleven). The text has excellent first poerson narration, the illustrations are detailed with many visual clues, and together they add up to laughter & a book that might be checked out constantly.
The illustrations were done in watercolor, pen & ink and are a delight to study for quirky details. The posters in Miss Breakbone's classroom, for example, feature dangerous animals and weapons. Spider's house has plenty of high interest details.
I recommend this book for independent readers who still enjoy (or want) illustrations and for reluctant readers. Ages 5-6 for a read aloud & ages 6-8 for independent readers.
April 26, 2014
Miss Breakbone is the teacher every child hates and avoids. She yells at her students, takes their things away, makes them cry, and does not give them second chances. One day, Miss Breakbone takes away Junkyard’s magnifying glass and cat that he found in the trash, and locks them away in her desk. The narrator is known by his peers as Einstein, and he is determined to get Junkyard’s belongings back. He enlists the help of his fellow classmates, and uses each of their talents to unlock Miss Breakbone’s desk drawer. Wheels gets the teacher’s address, Pencil draws the layout of her home’s interior and exterior, and the rest of his mates are rounded up during the ambush. When the children arrive at their teacher’s house, she is having a party. With the help of Spider, Hollywood, and Clips the students were able to get over the fence surrounding Miss Breakbone’s castle. Vicious dogs met them on the other side, but luckily Junkyard found meat to distract them. Making their way into her garage, the kids found a box of the student’s belongings – but not the cat. The children get the idea that Miss Breakbone put the missing cat inside a safe in her bedroom, so they venture off to the master bedroom. Their prediction was right, and the cat was in the safe! All of the sudden, the maid walks in the room, but Google-Eyes hypnotizes her. Junkyard finally gets his cat back, and gives it to his mother as a gift. The narrator leaves his mark in the safe in the form of a note saying, “The Dunderheads were here!”
The theme of the book seems to be teamwork. Einstein is able to round up his classmates, and utilize their unique skills in order to help one of their own peers. The students work together effortlessly to retrieve Junkyard’s cat gift for his mother. Without Einstein as their leader, the students would not have had all of the elements present to work as a team. Einstein is the leader, and he led his team in solving their problem.
I would use this book to encourage students to see the good and the talent in their fellow peers.
The theme of the book seems to be teamwork. Einstein is able to round up his classmates, and utilize their unique skills in order to help one of their own peers. The students work together effortlessly to retrieve Junkyard’s cat gift for his mother. Without Einstein as their leader, the students would not have had all of the elements present to work as a team. Einstein is the leader, and he led his team in solving their problem.
I would use this book to encourage students to see the good and the talent in their fellow peers.
July 2, 2009
Miss Breakbone hates children. She is harsh, rude, and cruel. But worst of all, she is also a teacher. She calls her class Dunderheads, and one day goes too far in taking away a broken cat from one of the children. His nickname was Junkyard and he had found it in the trash, a perfect gift for his feline-loving mother. When Miss Breakbone basically dared Junkyard to try to get it back, the class turned to Einstein, a boy with a brilliant mind for figuring things out and the narrator of the story. The children all had talents that they are nicknamed for. Together they formed the perfect set of skills to break into Miss Breakbone’s castle of a house and retrieve the cat.
This book is a marvelous mix of impossible mission intrigue and school misfits. Fleischman has created characters that are unique, strange and great fun. His text is simple, perfect for readers in first and second grades who want a book with pizzazz but are more comfortable with lots of illustrations. Roberts’ illustrations are a large part of the book. Much of it is done with panels like a graphic novel, enhancing the feel that the book is for slightly older children than most picture books. Roberts illustrations are dramatic, silly, and suit the subject perfectly. His towering and glowering Miss Breakbone is a frightening figure indeed. The danger is heightened by his illustrations rather than diminished, much to the delight of readers.
Highly recommended, this book fits a niche for picture books that will be of great interest to newly independent readers. It is also a wonderful read aloud, filled with tension, drama and humor galore. Appropriate for ages 5-6 as a read aloud, but also appropriate for ages 6-8 as a self-read.
This book is a marvelous mix of impossible mission intrigue and school misfits. Fleischman has created characters that are unique, strange and great fun. His text is simple, perfect for readers in first and second grades who want a book with pizzazz but are more comfortable with lots of illustrations. Roberts’ illustrations are a large part of the book. Much of it is done with panels like a graphic novel, enhancing the feel that the book is for slightly older children than most picture books. Roberts illustrations are dramatic, silly, and suit the subject perfectly. His towering and glowering Miss Breakbone is a frightening figure indeed. The danger is heightened by his illustrations rather than diminished, much to the delight of readers.
Highly recommended, this book fits a niche for picture books that will be of great interest to newly independent readers. It is also a wonderful read aloud, filled with tension, drama and humor galore. Appropriate for ages 5-6 as a read aloud, but also appropriate for ages 6-8 as a self-read.
August 15, 2013
Miss Breakbone just may be the worst teacher ever. She gives herself a star every time she makes a student cry, and her specialty is confiscating their favorite possessions. But Miss Breakbone goes too far when she confiscates the cat statue that Junkyard was going to give to his mom for her birthday. Class smartypants Einstein knows something must be done. He rounds up his talented classmates - like Pencil, who can see something once and draw it from memory, and Clips, who may struggle with reading and math but sure knows paper clip chains. Together they hatch a plan to get the cat statue back from Miss Breakbone's fortress-like house. Can they do it?
This is a fast read, but I definitely enjoyed it. The characters are funny and memorable, and the subtle message is to celebrate the unique interests and talent of each kid, no matter how odd. I also liked the message of teamwork - nothing would be accomplished in this story unless the classmates work together. The illustrations are fantastic as well.
I would recommend this book to kids in grades 2-5, especially reluctant readers. It would be great for fans of humor, school stories, or adventure. Readalikes might include Roscoe Riley Rules, Bink and Gollie, or 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel [divided by] 1 Dog = Chaos.
This is a fast read, but I definitely enjoyed it. The characters are funny and memorable, and the subtle message is to celebrate the unique interests and talent of each kid, no matter how odd. I also liked the message of teamwork - nothing would be accomplished in this story unless the classmates work together. The illustrations are fantastic as well.
I would recommend this book to kids in grades 2-5, especially reluctant readers. It would be great for fans of humor, school stories, or adventure. Readalikes might include Roscoe Riley Rules, Bink and Gollie, or 8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel [divided by] 1 Dog = Chaos.
February 5, 2014
I'd place "The Dunderheads" by Paul Fleischman squarely in the Realistic genre. It definitely seems to be a "What if" kind of book with lots of humor, adventure, and suspense. I'd read it to any school age kid - I certainly think they would get the most our of it, up to about 5th grade.
"The Dunderheads" is about a group of kids who have a seriously mean teacher, Miss Breakbone. Miss Breakbone tells them, "Never, have I been asked to teach such a scraping-together of fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don't-knowing dunderheads!" She does not see or appreciate her kids' true talents. After she confiscates a very special cat figurine from one of the kids they all band together, use their talents, to get it back...from inside her house!
I found this book to be so entertaining and endearing. It had a very "Goonies" sort of feel to it. I really love the colors that were chosen, the font, and the very detailed illustrations. This book is sure to resonate with anyone who has encountered a large, mean, adult in their life. This book could be used as a launching point for a writing assignment in which the kids have to write their own adventure story.
"The Dunderheads" is about a group of kids who have a seriously mean teacher, Miss Breakbone. Miss Breakbone tells them, "Never, have I been asked to teach such a scraping-together of fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don't-knowing dunderheads!" She does not see or appreciate her kids' true talents. After she confiscates a very special cat figurine from one of the kids they all band together, use their talents, to get it back...from inside her house!
I found this book to be so entertaining and endearing. It had a very "Goonies" sort of feel to it. I really love the colors that were chosen, the font, and the very detailed illustrations. This book is sure to resonate with anyone who has encountered a large, mean, adult in their life. This book could be used as a launching point for a writing assignment in which the kids have to write their own adventure story.
March 25, 2013
What is a dunderhead? A dunderhead is what the awful Miss Breakbone calls her students. She complains, also, that they are fiddling, twiddling, time-squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, and don’t-knowing. In this junior spy-thriller, a student named Einstein leads his class of misfits in the heist of an item confiscated by the wicked Miss Breakbone. The return of their fellow student’s treasured prize is the adventure of the year! This title is well suited for striving readers. Its 7” X 10” cover camouflages it as a more sophisticated read than it really is—it’s really just a shrunk-down picture book. Better yet, its takeaway lessons are that everyone has a talent and that spectacular things can happen when these talents are combined. This title will inspired and excite all types of readers!
Classroom Idea: Have students create a chart or illustrated list of the characters in the story. Ask them to list each talent and write a sentence or two describing how that talent contributed to a scheme’s success. Use this as an exercise to practice close textual reading, stressing that the sentence must be supported by text or illustrations from the book.
Classroom Idea: Have students create a chart or illustrated list of the characters in the story. Ask them to list each talent and write a sentence or two describing how that talent contributed to a scheme’s success. Use this as an exercise to practice close textual reading, stressing that the sentence must be supported by text or illustrations from the book.
March 9, 2015
*2015 Blue Stem Nominee*
The Dunderheads is perfection! I absolutely love this storyline! The story is told by a student that is called Einstein by his classmates. Each classmate has a nickname based off of their hobby or talent. These students have an awful teacher name Miss Breakbone, who takes their belongings and sells them. She is terrible, while reading I imagined Miss Trunchbull from Matilda. This woman was horrifying to look at as well. The story follows the students as they prepare a plan to get back one of their friend's items. The story is creative and unique. The students break into their teacher's home with the perfect plan in place. I think that all age levels with find this story amusing and great! I am going to have to add this to my personal classroom library! I give the Dunderheads five spitballs out of five!!
The Dunderheads is perfection! I absolutely love this storyline! The story is told by a student that is called Einstein by his classmates. Each classmate has a nickname based off of their hobby or talent. These students have an awful teacher name Miss Breakbone, who takes their belongings and sells them. She is terrible, while reading I imagined Miss Trunchbull from Matilda. This woman was horrifying to look at as well. The story follows the students as they prepare a plan to get back one of their friend's items. The story is creative and unique. The students break into their teacher's home with the perfect plan in place. I think that all age levels with find this story amusing and great! I am going to have to add this to my personal classroom library! I give the Dunderheads five spitballs out of five!!
May 23, 2010
When Miss Breakbone, cantankerous child-hating teacher extraordinaire, takes Junkyard's magnifying class and his mother's birthday present during class, she makes a series of mistakes. The worst of which is that she dares Junkyard not to think about getting his things back.
Now Einstein, the class problem solver, is organizing the rest of the kids in the class to pull off the ultimate heist--breaking into Miss Breakbone's house to retrieve the one-eyed cat in time for Junkyard to give it to his mom on Saturday. The Dunderheads have a giant task in front of them, but their unusual talents all have a role to play in a complicated heist that is sure to appeal to older picture book readers.
Now Einstein, the class problem solver, is organizing the rest of the kids in the class to pull off the ultimate heist--breaking into Miss Breakbone's house to retrieve the one-eyed cat in time for Junkyard to give it to his mom on Saturday. The Dunderheads have a giant task in front of them, but their unusual talents all have a role to play in a complicated heist that is sure to appeal to older picture book readers.
July 19, 2011
Too funny! When I was reading this, I kept hearing the theme music for "Mission Impossible," and I know that really dates me. Mrs. Breakbone really went to far when she took the cat figurine from Junkyard that he was planning on giving his mother for her birthday. The dunderheads unite to pull off a fantastically complex mission to rescue said kitty and give it back to Junkyard. Will they be able to rise to the challenge and outsmart their mean teacher who calls them all "dunderheads?" While the ending might be a little predictable, it is fun to read about the events that lead to a satisfactory conclusion. Recommended for grades 3-6...and adults who have forgotten what it is like to work together as a team.
November 28, 2011
Miss Breakbone is a terrible teacher. She spends all her time yelling and insulting her pupils. She also confiscates all their possessions. The students just sit in silent suffering until one day Miss B goes too far. She takes something from Junkyard that he had planned to give his mother for her birthday. The class brain, Einstein, springs into action. He devises a plan that involves the whole class and each of their special interests and talents. The goal is to reclaim their stuff and show Miss Breakbone that she's not the boss. Humorous and a quick read. I loved the message that all the kids might look different and have different hobbies, but they can get along and even work together to solve a problem.
February 27, 2015
Personal Reaction:
This book was on a list of great read aloud books for children, however it was not my favorite. I liked how the students worked together to get back their items the teacher took away from them. The illustrations were descent, but they were more like cartoons, which would be appealing to some children.
Purpose:
This book makes a wonderful read aloud, because of the vocabulary and language. I think 2nd through 5th graders would enjoy this story, because they are getting back what is rightfully theirs. The sentence structures were both simple and complex, which would enrich an audience. This could be used in curriculum as an example of dialog in stories, because majority of the book is a dialog.
This book was on a list of great read aloud books for children, however it was not my favorite. I liked how the students worked together to get back their items the teacher took away from them. The illustrations were descent, but they were more like cartoons, which would be appealing to some children.
Purpose:
This book makes a wonderful read aloud, because of the vocabulary and language. I think 2nd through 5th graders would enjoy this story, because they are getting back what is rightfully theirs. The sentence structures were both simple and complex, which would enrich an audience. This could be used in curriculum as an example of dialog in stories, because majority of the book is a dialog.
July 1, 2009
Miss Breakbone hates children: each time she makes one cry, she gives herself a gold star, and it is rumored that she purchased an electric chair with money made from selling items she’d confiscated from students. She underestimates the class of kids she has labeled “Dunderheads”, however, and together they use their unique talents to retrieve their belongings. Roberts’ comical cartoon illustrations of Miss Breakbone show her looking like a stereotypical Russian prison guard--huge chest beneath a dark gray dress and a permanent scowl. Kids will love the “revenge on the teacher” aspect of the story.
August 15, 2009
This felt like a picture book version of 'The Mysterious Benedict Society.' A crack team of children of varying talents united by common goal. Clever, clever children thwart the evil grownup. Perhaps there is an emerging sub genre...'Ocean's 11 junior' see also 'Swindle' by Gordon Korman.
It could just as easily belong to the classic sub genre of children's lit- the evil teacher...see also 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl, 'Miss Nelson is Missing' by Allard, 'A Little Princess' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
What really carried this book for me were the fabulous illustrations by David Roberts (The Dumpster Diver), but the story is also sure to appeal to many.
It could just as easily belong to the classic sub genre of children's lit- the evil teacher...see also 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl, 'Miss Nelson is Missing' by Allard, 'A Little Princess' by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
What really carried this book for me were the fabulous illustrations by David Roberts (The Dumpster Diver), but the story is also sure to appeal to many.
November 8, 2009
Entertaining light and clever read about a nasty piece of work of a teacher and some very clever and resourceful students who definitely give her a well-deserved comeuppance. Although this is cataloged in the fiction (as in longer fiction) area of the children's area of our library, it is really a picture book for older readers. Aah - do I wish there could be a separate area for just that. Those special books that are far too long and conceptually above the little ones have so much to offer as read-alouds for middle grades. They just get lost in the fiction area and aren't right in the picture book area.
August 4, 2010
November 18, 2010
We read it last night when we got it home. Such fun! I love the class full of kids who may seem like misfits, but each of whom has very desirable skills which they use together to thwart the evil teacher. An elaborate heist pulled off by kids against a teacher who looks like she came out of a Roald Dahl story. Awesome.
***
May 3, 2012
Tash said I'd read it, but I couldn't quite remember it. Oh, drag, I had to read a pleasurable book again. Next week I'll have to pick up the sequel, which is what started the conversation in the first place.
Library copy
We read it last night when we got it home. Such fun! I love the class full of kids who may seem like misfits, but each of whom has very desirable skills which they use together to thwart the evil teacher. An elaborate heist pulled off by kids against a teacher who looks like she came out of a Roald Dahl story. Awesome.
***
May 3, 2012
Tash said I'd read it, but I couldn't quite remember it. Oh, drag, I had to read a pleasurable book again. Next week I'll have to pick up the sequel, which is what started the conversation in the first place.
Library copy
April 22, 2014
The Dunderheads, written by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleishman, was a light-hearted picture book that reminded me of Ocean’s 11, but with children. Each student was nicknamed for their special talent and worked together to break into the evil teacher’s house to take back the precious cat she had stolen from one of her students. Through their seeking of justice we are reminded that every individual is intelligent in different and unique ways. The lessons learned are never judge and never underestimate. This fun and fast read was also nominated for a 2015 Bluestem award making it a great choice for children ages 8-10. - Deanna B.
November 11, 2014
Genre: Picture Book Published: 2009
The dunderheads are a group of misfit students with special skills that go on a mission to save a one eared cat from a not so nice teacher. This book was entertaining and full of adventure. It is a light hearted humorous book. One of my favorite quotes from the book was "Never have I been asked to teach such a scraping-together of fiddling, twiddling, time squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don't knowing dunderheads." This book is also by the same author of Seedfolks, which is a wonderful multicultural book I often read with my 6th graders.
The dunderheads are a group of misfit students with special skills that go on a mission to save a one eared cat from a not so nice teacher. This book was entertaining and full of adventure. It is a light hearted humorous book. One of my favorite quotes from the book was "Never have I been asked to teach such a scraping-together of fiddling, twiddling, time squandering, mind-wandering, doodling, dozing, don't knowing dunderheads." This book is also by the same author of Seedfolks, which is a wonderful multicultural book I often read with my 6th graders.
February 25, 2016
"The Dunderheads" is one of the most cleverly written books I have ever read. The story focuses on a class of students who set out to recover an item that their mean, crotchety teacher stole from one of their classmates during school. The story highlights how even the "weird kids" have something to offer if you get to know them. This book also highlights the value of teamwork towards a common goal, as every student involved with the plot has a unique role in attempting to recover the stolen item. The illustrations are highly stylized, which only adds to the overall effect of the story. Students and teachers alike will love this hilarious tale!
January 17, 2009
I really enjoyed this book- a fast-reading heist movie in book form for the elementary set. Love the illustrations! Funny and pseudo-dramatic, the weird format (my older son dubbed it a "chipter book"- a chapter book with a picture-book feel) will make this more accessible for a wider audience. I would have done five stars except the crazy-fingernails bit was a weak link and it kind of annoyed me- more silly/plausible ideas could have fit there that would have kept it from heading into ridiculous territory. Still highly recommended!
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