The Magic School Bus Meets The Rot Squad: A Book About Decomposition

Magic School Bus TV Tie-Ins

by Linda Ward Beech (Adapter), Carolyn Bracken (Illustrator), Joanna Cole

In this simplified series, Ms. Frizzle and her students embark on numerous entertaining scientific journeys. The books are based on the PBS television series.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, School, Education, Kids

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[K Morlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love the magic school bus series of books, they are very educational!

[Becky Galambos · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rotten book. Seriously. It is about things that rot and decompose. Other than that, a great book. And I still want some of Mrs. Frizzle's dresses.

[Laila Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the story the “Magic School Bus: Meets The Rot Squad” the class is learning about rot and Mrs. Frizzle decides to take them on a field trip to an empty lot with rotting log. The class decides to get rid of the rotting log thinking that the log has no purpose however, Mrs. Frizzle decides to shrink the magic school bus to teach her students about the benefits of rot. The students learns that a decomposing log helps not only the soil around it but also the living creatures that depend upon it for food and shelter. At the end of the tour of the rotting log the students realize the importance of what the log and rot can contribute to the environment. There are three main fantastic elements present in this book. The first element is animals can talk, specifically Mrs. Frizzle’s green lizard. Although the lizard doesn't talk much, he has human characteristics for example he wears clothes, burps and even says lunchtime. The second element present is a make believe/imaginative world for example, the students, bus, and Mrs. Frizzle become a lot smaller than a rotting log and even bugs. The last fantastic elements present is a journey occurs for example the students and Mrs. Frizzle take a journey through a rotting log in order to learn about the importance of decomposition and rot. This journey takes a while because the students and Mrs. Frizzle are much smaller than the log. There are three main visual elements present, the color red, the color green, and angular edges. The color red is used as the cover of the entire book. Red represents power and passion which correlates to Mrs. Frizzle and her passion for teaching her students in her unique way using magic. The color green is also used because nature is a huge aspect of the lesson Mrs. Frizzle is trying to teacher her students about the importance of decomposition in an environment. The visual element of shape is used specifically angular edges. At the end of this story, a log remover worker attempts to remove the rotting log with a chain saw. The chain saw has jagged edges which represents the movement of the saw.

[Andrea Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good for grades 3-4. It is a fun way to describe where animals live and it will keep readers engaged. It's a good book to read in front of a class and to have in a classroom. The genre is informational and modern fantasy.

[Tracy Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Frizzle's science class is having a disgusting, gross rot contest. After Wanda was pronounced the winner, she was given a baby tree. She decided to plant the tree in a vacant lot which had an old log in it. When Wanda decided to have the old rotten log moved, Ms. Fizzle decides it is time to take a trip to find out what rot has to do with life. Ms. Frizzle helps the class discover how decompostion is an important part of nature. Linda Ward Beech helps bring this Scholastic Magic School Bus book to life. She based the book on the Magic School Bus Books written by Joanna Cole. Beech helps students learn the importance of decomposition plus includes a project for parents and children to complete together in the book. Carolyn Bracken's illustrations help children understand how decomposition works.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

My generic review of the Magic School Bus books -

We really love the series. This book doesn't have all the cartoony dialouge asides that the earlier books have. There are maybe a comment or two per page instead of full conversations. Some people hate that; I think I prefer it. The page is less busy.

These books clearly explain a certain topic. There are often additional activities at the end of the book for further learning.

We read these for 'fun' during picture book time and we read them when learning about a certain subject.

Most of the books have movies which correspond. We've enjoyed those as well.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Frizzle and the kids go on another field trip to discover about the magic of all things rotten and their place in ecology. It's a fun story; gross, exciting and fascinating at the same time. Still, it didn't earn four stars from me because this Magic School Bus TV tie-in adaptation doesn't flow smoothly. It feels too dis-jointed. Twice, I turned back a page or two because it seemed like we missed something, that there was too big a gap in the narrative. In any case, it was still a good story and our girls love all these books, so we'll be reading more for sure.

[alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the original Magic School Bus series as a kid and still find them fabulous. Reading them feels like going on a treasure hunt finding all the small graphic details and following the side conversations and science notes. These books based off TV episodes are somewhat less impressive. The stories are streamlined without any extra details instead focusing on some hokey plot point (Oh, no! Wanda called a lumberjack! *dumdumdum*). Ms. Frizzle and crew are still quirkily introducing some science point, but there is less substance to the topic. These books might be easier to read aloud to a group, though.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magic School Bus series takes students on science adventures. This specific book takes the student through decomposition. Ms. Frizzle makes you feel like you are in the story with the kids. Some of the terminology may be confusing for students but it does give the reader a good idea of decomposition. There is a science experiment provided in the back which is neat for the teachers too.

[Arnav Melendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in the series of successful "Magic School Bus" books for young elementary-age children, The MSB Meets the Rot Squad is a helpful addition to any teacher's library. It can enhance units dealing with the life cycle in a way that isn't simply approached in other texts for this age group. It really helps jump-start the learning process and bring this concept to life.

[Little Miss and the Legomeister · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Magic School Bus books. I've read quite a few over the years. Legomeister loved them a couple of years ago. He still checks them out sometimes, but he doesn't ask me to read them to him anymore.

This one isn't my favorite. I guess I'm getting a little squeamish in my old age.

[Kristina Arnold]

This is another great book for teachers trying to add a read aloud into their unit this time about decomposition.

[Rachelolivia]

III

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very educational, I loved all the Magic School Bus books as a kid and my girls enjoy it now!

[Little Champs]

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