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My Weird School Fast Facts
My Weird School Fast Facts: Explorers, Presidents, and Toilets
Think fast with A.J. and Andrea from My Weird School!
Did you know that the word “independence” never appears in the Declaration of Independence? Did you know that soldiers in World War I collected thousands of glowworms in jars to help them see at night?!
Learn more weird-but-true U.S. history facts with A.J. and Andrea from Dan Gutman’s bestselling My Weird School series. This all-new series of nonfiction books features hundreds of hysterical facts, plus lots of photos and illustrations.
Whether you're a kid who wants to learn more about our country's history or simply someone who wants to know how many Americans are involved in toilet-related injuries each year, this is the book for you!
With more than 30 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!
Did you know that the word “independence” never appears in the Declaration of Independence? Did you know that soldiers in World War I collected thousands of glowworms in jars to help them see at night?!
Learn more weird-but-true U.S. history facts with A.J. and Andrea from Dan Gutman’s bestselling My Weird School series. This all-new series of nonfiction books features hundreds of hysterical facts, plus lots of photos and illustrations.
Whether you're a kid who wants to learn more about our country's history or simply someone who wants to know how many Americans are involved in toilet-related injuries each year, this is the book for you!
With more than 30 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!
192 pages, Hardcover
Published June 20, 2017
About the author
Dan Gutman
425 books1,059 followersThe author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 16, 2023
Hearing my son giggle while reading this is worth 5 stars. Oh, and there's some educational material in this book too which makes it even better.
June 4, 2022
when thriftbooks sends you this instead of the book you ordered….
to-read-own
June 18, 20186/18/18 bought Kindle for $1.99
October 10, 2017
History is weird, and so is the title of this book. But it’s enough to hook the readers for whom it is intended. Kids will enjoy the conversation between friends Andrea and Arlo (A.J., as he likes to be called) that traces U.S. history from even before we were the United States. Interesting tidbits and, yes, potty humor ensues. This volume of My Weird School Fast Facts series would be a great investment for upper elementary students. Highly recommended for purchase.
October 17, 2020
Very informative book/primer for any age!
December 12, 2017
I had high hopes for MY WEIRD SCHOOL FAST FACTS: EXPLORERS, PRESIDENTS, and TOILETS after reading Dan's other book and he didn't disappoint. Once again, there are so many weird facts packed into one book. This one discusses explorers, the formation of the United States (including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution), the different wars, and even the history of the toilet!
I loved the weird facts about the founding fathers and the presidents. One I found very interesting was that James Monroe was wounded in the Battle of Trenton and carried a bullet in his shoulder for the rest of his life. Another one was Gerald R. Ford who worked as a fashion model to put himself through law school.
Everything someone needs to know about American history is compiled in this book, but it isn't overwhelming at all. I love how easy it is to read and follow. It's written like a conversation and makes the learning process feel more natural.
Final Verdict: This series is perfect for children who love facts and history. I would recommend this to anyone ages six and up because of its learning value. Who knew there was so much weird in the world?
I loved the weird facts about the founding fathers and the presidents. One I found very interesting was that James Monroe was wounded in the Battle of Trenton and carried a bullet in his shoulder for the rest of his life. Another one was Gerald R. Ford who worked as a fashion model to put himself through law school.
Everything someone needs to know about American history is compiled in this book, but it isn't overwhelming at all. I love how easy it is to read and follow. It's written like a conversation and makes the learning process feel more natural.
Final Verdict: This series is perfect for children who love facts and history. I would recommend this to anyone ages six and up because of its learning value. Who knew there was so much weird in the world?
August 8, 2017
What a fun way to learn historical facts! There were times when I was laughing out loud as I followed the conversations between A. J. and Andrea, the narrators. Can't wait to read the other titles in this series!
October 19, 2017
Your 9 - 12 year old kids will love sharing these fast and weird facts about U.S. History!
September 23, 2020
This book was the most perfect way to introduce my 8th grader to U.S. history. It's a good enough balance between facts & humor that it makes history seem fun. There's a girl part & boy part, which made the reading easy to divide up & interact in. I wish more history books for kids were written this way!
March 28, 2025
This book Explorers, Presidents, and toilets by Dan Gutman. Is a funny book that has true information. Like In chapter 11 Andrea said In 1807, the explorer Zebulon Pike sent Thomas Jefferson to grizzly bear clubs They lived in a cage on the white house lawn and that is true. This book is nonfiction because it has real information. I would rate this book a 4 star because it gives real information about toilets and that is funny. I recommend this book to someone who likes nonfiction books that are funny.
June 27, 2024
Super cute book for kids.
June 30, 2025
good
Good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good very incredibley nice amazing Cool
Good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good very incredibley nice amazing Cool
November 11, 2025
I remember loving this, and finding it hilarious
May 3, 2026
I liked all the facts it taught me about history!
March 11, 2018
3.5/5 stars
Did you know that the in Declaration of Independence, the word 'independence' is never written?
Did you know that worms, slugs, and pigeons all helped America win World War 1?
Did you know that during the 1880's, Tom Crapper invented the flushing toilet bowl?
These are all some of the many facts I learned in Dan Gutman's 'My Weird School fast facts: Explorers, Presidents and Toilets.
I thoroughly enjoyed the humor in this book, narrators Andrea and A.J. made a few pretty funny jokes. Some of the facts were quite interesting, and they taught you all about American history.
But, since I'm Canadian, It wasn't as interesting for me as it would have been for someone who lives in the U.S.
It got a bit boring at times, especially when they went on and on about fast facts about the presidents. I find that there was too many. I did like learning more about the world wars, though.
Another thing is that in school, I've already learned about most of these things. I already know about the thirteen colonies and the American Revolution, so I think this book is meant more for a younger age group that mine.
This was a quick read for me, I finished it in less than 24 hours.
I would recommend this book probably to 6-9 year olds who want to learn about American history and World and Civil wars.
Megan:)
Did you know that the in Declaration of Independence, the word 'independence' is never written?
Did you know that worms, slugs, and pigeons all helped America win World War 1?
Did you know that during the 1880's, Tom Crapper invented the flushing toilet bowl?
These are all some of the many facts I learned in Dan Gutman's 'My Weird School fast facts: Explorers, Presidents and Toilets.
I thoroughly enjoyed the humor in this book, narrators Andrea and A.J. made a few pretty funny jokes. Some of the facts were quite interesting, and they taught you all about American history.
But, since I'm Canadian, It wasn't as interesting for me as it would have been for someone who lives in the U.S.
It got a bit boring at times, especially when they went on and on about fast facts about the presidents. I find that there was too many. I did like learning more about the world wars, though.
Another thing is that in school, I've already learned about most of these things. I already know about the thirteen colonies and the American Revolution, so I think this book is meant more for a younger age group that mine.
This was a quick read for me, I finished it in less than 24 hours.
I would recommend this book probably to 6-9 year olds who want to learn about American history and World and Civil wars.
Megan:)
January 22, 2019
My Weird School: Fast Facts: Explorers, Presidents, and Toilets by Dan Gutman, 185 pages. Harper Collins, 2017, $6.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G;
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
A.J. and Andrea take a quick look at U.S. history beginning with the misconception that Columbus discovered North America. The first half of the book deals with our founding years. The second half covers the impacts of the Industrial Revolution up to World War II. Fun and fast, A.J. and Andrea are as entertaining as ever.
Like the other books in the series, this one is done as if it were a continuous conversation between A.J., Andrea, and their teacher. It is a quick read that scratches the surface of a lot of different scientific facts. Although it wouldn’t qualify as a good book to use for a research project, it is an entertaining introduction to U.S. history.. A good read or read aloud for second to fifth graders. A good book for a library that wants to expand fun and funny non-fiction for younger readers.
Reviewer: LMA, Bookin’ my way through life
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G;
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
A.J. and Andrea take a quick look at U.S. history beginning with the misconception that Columbus discovered North America. The first half of the book deals with our founding years. The second half covers the impacts of the Industrial Revolution up to World War II. Fun and fast, A.J. and Andrea are as entertaining as ever.
Like the other books in the series, this one is done as if it were a continuous conversation between A.J., Andrea, and their teacher. It is a quick read that scratches the surface of a lot of different scientific facts. Although it wouldn’t qualify as a good book to use for a research project, it is an entertaining introduction to U.S. history.. A good read or read aloud for second to fifth graders. A good book for a library that wants to expand fun and funny non-fiction for younger readers.
Reviewer: LMA, Bookin’ my way through life
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
February 13, 2021
A little trivia (no, lots of trivia) mixed with middle grade humor and a touch of serious insights made this book an enjoyable read. If I were a middle schooler again, this is the type of history book that would grab my attention. I don't have a great mind for remembering facts and records and dates, but this book provides lots of interesting information.
May 1, 2018
I read this to my class.
April 2, 2019
This book was very funny. I like how Andrea and AJ always argue.
April 8, 2020
This was a fun book to read with my son. I actually learned a lot of fun facts.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews