The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka

This is a children's book. It is also classified as Humour, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Short Stories, Picture Books, Kids and Classic Retellings. 

 Reader Suggestion: This is a children's book filled with stupid stories as advertised. Children as young as four would enjoy this book (and adults as old as 34 would enjoy this too).

"Phew! What is that terrible smell?"

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is narrated by Jack. Yes, that Jack, of Beanstalk fame. He shares the re-envisioned stories of childhood classics. You've heard of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but what about Goldilocks and the Three Elephants? Or Little Red Running Shorts? 

Jack shares with readers the stories of Chicken Licken, The Princess and the Bowling Ball, The Really Ugly Duckling, The Other Frog Prince, Jack's Bean Problem (the story told from both the Giant and Jack's side), Cinderummpelstiltskin, The Tortoise and the Hair (yes Hair, not Hare), and of course the Stinky Cheese Man.   

The Review

To say I loved this book as a kid would be an understatement. To say my classmates loved this book would be an understatement. Everyone in my class loved this book so much that they had to create a policy that you could not check out the same book more than once in a month. It was beloved. And as an adult, it stuck with me. 

Before Harry Potter changed reading for me, there was this book. It was hilarious; it was wacky! It broke all the rules. It was silly. So far, all I knew about reading was that it was great when someone else was reading and sucked when I was doing it. But this book didn't feel that way. It didn't feel like a chore; it felt like a fun bedtime story. And the pictures were just great. 

SPOILER ALERT

Typically, I write spoilers for books, explain my take and reaction to plots and stuff like that. There really is no spoiler alert for this book. It's a retelling of traditional fairy tales with some pretty "stupid" takes on them. Each story is about three to five pages long and has a photo or two to go with it. And it is stupid; that's what makes it so funny. 

I originally read this book in school. I re-read it by "borrowing" it from the Internet Archive (link below). 

Rating and Recommendation

I gave this book five stars. Call it nostalgia, but I couldn't imagine giving this book anything less. It's funny, it's quirky, it's everything you'd want in a children's book. And I think most kids would like it. I can understand why adults wouldn't get it or find it annoying or odd, but I think if you grew up with this book, you understand.

On Goodreads, it has a 4.02 rating; 50% of these votes are 5 stars. Less than 5% are 2 stars or lower. I was a bit shocked to see that. So I read a few one-star reviews. One review said, "This is the most confusing and boring mixed-up book." Another said, "I have eighteen hens at home; I never appreciate it when hens are made fun of." And one grown woman stated, "This just wasn't to my taste." So maybe not all adults would enjoy this CHILDREN'S book. 

One comment did catch my eye. Someone called the photos "creepy". As an adult, I can see why they would think that way. But as a child, it wasn't creepy to me, just funny. And I was not a child who enjoyed creepy or scary things (no Goosebumps books for me!). So you may want to explore some of the imagery before allowing your child to read this book.

I do not own this book. I searched for it for years and could never find it. I finally found it on Amazon (it is free on Kindle Unlimited, by the way), but the hardcover is a bit expensive in my opinion (just to add to my library). I did, however, buy a French version of this book for a child in my life last Christmas. 

Conclusion

Most books, especially children's books, are hit or miss. Some children are going to love them; some children are going to hate them. I can say I have never seen or heard of anyone not liking this book. And I believe that it has aged well. I think most children would get a kick out of the stories, especially if they already know the original fairy tales. 

Not all parents will enjoy the "wacky" approach this book takes. I am of the opinion that as long as a child is reading (and it is age-appropriate), then enjoy, find more, explore! But I also believe no one knows better than a child's parent what they should or shouldn't be reading (what they are or aren't ready for).  

You can find The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales in its respective mediums below: 

You can also find The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales for free at Archive.Org and free readings on YouTube.

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

Murder on the Canadian by Eric Wilson (Tom and Liz Austen Series Book 1)

This is a children's book. I think the category would be "juvenile", not quite Young Adult (YA), though Goodreads does tag it as YA. I personally would suggest grades 5 - 6. (Indigo's website suggests ages 9 to 12 years old). It is also considered Crime, Mystery Thriller, Canadian, Middle Grade, Thriller.

Trigger Warning: 

This book includes panic, thrills, murder, weapons, danger, betrayal, and life-threatening danger. 

"A bomb. Yes, Tom was sure it must be a bomb."

In the first book of the Tom and Liz Austen Mysteries series, we meet Tom. He is travelling on the famous passenger train, The Canadian, to visit his grandparents in British Columbia.

Little does he know he is about to find himself in the middle of a murder plot. Awoken one night by a woman's agonising screams, Tom rushes to see what has happened just a few sleeping cars away.

As Tom investigates the odd assortment of characters travelling with him in Car 165, he learns there is more than meets the eye with a few of them. The more he pokes around, the closer he gets to the truth, but at what cost?

The Review

I reread this book for this blog. And I have to say I still think it is a great book for kids. Obviously, as an adult, I recognise that certain things probably aren't accurate and are definitely embellished for "the plot". But as a kid, I certainly didn't feel that way. I think we all want to think we can solve crimes and kick butt. I mean, that's definitely why I watch shows like Dateline and 20/20 and any other murder investigation shows. It's why we gravitate to unsolved mysteries and conspiracy theories, because somewhere deep down, we want answers and we think we can find them. And I think that's what a child can get out of these books - the same way a generation before got that from The Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. 

There are some mature themes in this book, which is why I always encourage parents to read the book also, and to talk with their children. And try and gage before hand if your child is ready for the themes discussed. Some children won't be ready, no matter how old they are, while others will eat these books up.

SPOILER ALERT

Obviously, there are some "liberties" taken. Hopefully, no adult would let a kid pick up a knife (the assumed murder weapon) and let him just hold on to it. I would also hope that if a murder happened on a moving train, there would be a lot more police investigation than one RCMP officer asking questions before the train takes off again. 

But all that being said, I think we all want that in a story, so what if it's not 100% accurate? I want to feel like I can solve crimes too! I think any child interested in mysteries would identify with Tom (and Liz later on), and feel like they too could be a super sleuth! 

I originally read this book in school. I re-read it by "borrowing" it from Kindle Unlimited. 

Rating and Recommendation

As an adult, I probably wouldn't give this book five stars. But remembering how much I liked it as a child, I think five stars is a good bet. I enjoyed it as an adult, I loved it as a kid. It may be a little dated but, I think it is very wholesome in a way and I think it is a great way for Canadian children to find out more about Canadian geography and places.   

One review on Goodreads particularly struck me. They commented on how inspiring Eric Wilson was and how thrilled they was to find a 40th Anniversary Edition of the book at her local bookstore. But she only gave the book two stars and compared it to Popeye's candy sticks from childhood, nostalgic but ultimately disappointing. Now I am not going to say this person was wrong, but. . . if one can't enjoy a fine cigarette of the Popeye variety, can we really trust their opinion on books?

But all joking aside, I think that an older child would enjoy this series. 

I did not own this book. This was not one of the original books I purchased as a kid. But after years of really wanting to get back to reading Eric Wilson books and finishing off the series. I bought the Eric Wilson Canadian Mysteries Vol 1, Vol 2 and Vol 3 set. (Which you may have seen on my Instagram!)

Conclusion

This is another great Canadian book I was introduced to in school. Though we didn't read this specific one in class, I became obsessed with Tom and Liz Austen Mysteries. To this day, I remember the pure joy I felt opening up a Christmas bag and realising my father had bought me more Eric Wilson books. Back when I was young, it was much harder to buy books than it is today, and I was in tears because I was so happy. Mr Wilson had visited our school, and it only added to my obsession and inspiration.  Naturally, I wanted them all. But settled for just a few, and then the surprise of a lifetime. At 34, it is still one of the best gifts I have ever received. 

So am I biased? Yes. 

But as a kid, I can remember how fascinated I was to see places in Canada being featured in books! That was such a new concept to little old me from a small town in the middle of nowhere. He mentioned Ottawa! He mentioned Alberta! He mentioned the brand new Super Mall in Edmonton! It was mind-blowing. The fact that all these were real places I could actually go see really sparked my interest not only in his books, but in Canadian geography as well. 

While I always credit Harry Potter for sparking my love of reading, Eric Wilson and his books would be a close second.  

You can find Murder on the Canadian in its respective mediums below: 

 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Wayside School Series - Book 1) - Review

 

 

This is a children's book. I think the category would be "juvenile", not quite Young Adult (YA), though Goodreads does tag it as YA. I personally would suggest grades 3 - 4. (Indigo's website suggests ages 9 to 12.)

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with some weirdness. Please read the book yourself first to decide if your child is ready for some of the stories inside. 

"You need a reason to be sad. You don't need a reason to be happy."

A strange school built thirty stories high (instead of one story with thirty classrooms) is home to Wayside School. Though the builder said he was very, very sorry for the mistake, the strange school is now home to some wacky classes - especially on the thirtieth floor. 

The stories of Wayside School follow the children of the thirtieth floor - Mrs Gorf's class (later Mrs. Jewls class). They are strange and silly tales told by a special yard teacher. 

There is John, who can only read upside down, and Myron, the best class president and Bebe, the fastest drawer in art class and of course, Sammy, the new kid. Thirty stories, thirty children, all from the thirtieth floor. 

The Review

I read this book in school. And I re-read it this year specifically for this post. I enjoyed it as a kid; I remember being excited when we were told we would be reading the sequel also. The chapters are very short, and they are individual stories, so it is a nice way to be introduced to a chapter book. I think most kids would enjoy this book. The stories are funny and wacky and just fun for kids. 

The book series was so popular that they created a cartoon based on it (a slightly updated version). This may or may not make the books more popular with children. 

SPOILER ALERT

The first chapter is about Mrs Gorf, a terribly vile teacher who turns her students into apples. Eventually, she is turned into an apple and eaten by one of her students! This story stands out the most to me. This one may be a little scary to a young kid. But it's all in a funny way. So if your child is sensitive, skipping this story may be best. 

The next chapter is about Mrs Jewls, a much nicer teacher who takes over when Mrs Gorf can no longer be the teacher. And then the next twenty-seven chapters are about the students. 

The final chapter is written by "Louis" (conveniently the name of the author), the yard teacher. He suggests that he read the stories of the children to regular children from a regular school (the reader), and they thought they were strange and silly. It recaps the stories and is a cute way to end the book. 

I originally read this book in school. I re-read this book through my local library (on the Libby App). 

Rating and Recommendation

I gave this book four stars because, as I read it again as an adult, I realised that some of the themes may be a little outdated. I did read this in school when I was a kid (over twenty years ago). But I still think it should be considered a classic for children. It's a good book, and I am of the opinion that if it gets children to read, that's all that matters. I do think there are more "wacky" books out there now - like Captain Underpants, for example and kids just LOVE those books. So I think this is a great "gateway book" for a child to see that reading doesn't have to be a chore. It can be funny, quirky, and a game. It doesn't have to be sitting at your desk, back straight, reading. It can be about a boy with green hair or a girl who draws a million miles a minute.  

I do not own this book. I am a little old to be buying this book now. (I have a huge list of books that I already want to buy without adding some childhood books I don't own yet.) But if I saw the series (a box set) on sale, I would jump on it. That being said, I think it is a great investment if you have children. 

Conclusion

This may not be a part of the school curriculum anymore, but I think it is still a great book for kids. It's quirky and fun, and I think most kids would laugh and enjoy it. If you want to make sure your kids would like the book, you can always check out the TV series they made (I'll link a YouTube video below), or read the book yourself. It does have 30 chapters, but each is between 5 and 7 pages long, so it shouldn't take long to read yourself or just choose a few chapters (they don't really follow), and you can get a sense of the book. 

You can find Sideway Stories from Wayside School in its respective mediums below: 

 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter Series Book #2)

This book is obviously Fantasy. I would consider it young adult, but also MAGICAL! And an amazing adventure.

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with death. Nothing graphic, but the main character is orphaned. Also, child neglect (minimal). 

I also understand that the author of this book may be a trigger, too. I will not be addressing the controversy surrounding her. 

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

Harry Potter's summer is dragging on as he awaits his freedom back in the Wizarding World. So far, he has had the worst birthday and has been sent to his room to make no noise and pretend like he doesn't exist. Something he has gotten quite good at. It all seems normal for poor Harry, until a strange little house-elf appears. 

Dobby, the house-elf, has a sinister warning for him. Don't return to Hogwarts; it is not safe. But Hogwarts is the only place Harry remembers ever calling home. A place where he fits in, where he has friends, where he can live a normal life and not be shunned by the people around him. 

But Dobby will stop at nothing to try and protect Harry, including closing the passageway to Platform Nine and three-quarters! Unable to access the Hogwarts Express back to school, Harry and Ron borrow Mr. Wesley's flying car and make the trip, coming face first with the whomping willow as they land on the school grounds. 

An odd start to an odd school year. Soon, Harry begins to hear strange whispers echoing through the halls. And then students start getting attacked. What is going on? And is Harry somehow connected to everything?

The Review

As I said in the previous review (for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Harry Potter was a HUGE part of my childhood. It changed my life. I fell in love with reading because of Harry Potter. And I think I have to make that disclaimer before talking about this book. 

This book was a little darker than the first one, not overly, but it burst a bubble in a way. Hogwarts was supposed to be the safe place for Harry, and while last year a teacher tried to kill him (Spoiler Alert), it is safe to believe that is a one-time thing. WRONG. Though this time it is a little scarier in my opinion - the unknown of what is going on, the actual targeted attack instead of three meddling kids getting caught up in grown-up stuff. 

From the students being randomly attacked to the threats being written in blood. This book is much more of a psychological game. It also sees Harry being specifically sought out and targeted, whereas the last book was a little less on the nose. 

SPOILER ALERT

When Hermione gets attacked, I think it really hits how Harry is in danger. It is not just some bad guy looking for the elixir of life; it is now someone actually targeting Harry and the people in his life. And I think again, a bubble bursts in the sense that the school, the faculty, even Dumbledore can't stop these attacks. No one has been able to find the chamber and stop what is going on. And it really shows that Harry is going to have to step up and take charge of not only his own protection but that of the other students. 

In the end, we see Harry prevail, obviously. But we also see that bad men, like Lucius Malfoy, look like any regular person. He is Draco's father, a fellow student. But he is the one that place the journal in Ginny Weasley's cauldron in Diagon Ally; he is the reason these attacks are happening. He is a secondary evil, but he has access; he is walking around, doing day-to-day life things unexposed. Unlike Voldemort, who everyone is looking for and on the lookout for. 

My mom read me the Scholastic paperback edition to me when I was a kid. Since then, I have listened to Stephen Fry read the book. I also have the full cast reading from Audible! 

Rating and Recommendation

Naturally, I gave this book five stars also. As I said before, I am biased; I fully admit it. But I simply can't imagine giving Harry Potter anything less. (And almost three million people agree with me - out of a little over 4.5 million reviews on Goodreads.) I think some lower reviews may have come later on because of reasons other than the book's storyline or quality, but I have chosen not to go into that. 

That being said, I can understand that Harry Potter hit different for my generation. We grew up with The Boy Who Lived. I went from not caring to standing in line for book releases and reading the new book in two days. By the time the last book of the series came out, I was reading for hours on end just because I couldn't stand to wait a moment longer, not knowing what happened. It was a far cry from the kid who hated reading.

Fantasy is everywhere now. So the "shock" of something new and enchanting isn't necessarily there anymore. But I think any child who enjoys such things (witches and wizards, magic and dragons, etc) would enjoy this series. And they now have "Pocket Potters" books dedicated to a younger audience. 

I bought this book from a Scholastic Book Fair flyer when I was in the fourth grade. I bought the next two books the same way. And then I started getting them right from the bookstore. I couldn't wait for Scholastic anymore; I had to have my hands on the books the minute they came out. Now, at 34 years old, I am starting to collect both illustrated versions of the series. 

Conclusion

Give Harry a chance. Show your children the movies or the upcoming TV show. Introduce them to Harry, and if they fall in love too, you may very well find your child's gateway into the reading world. I am a firm believer that it doesn't matter what your child reads (as long as it is age-appropriate and doesn't cause any negative feelings), or how they read (audio, e-book, physical book), as long as they are exposed to reading, to books, to stories that can transport them to magical places. 

You can find Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in its respective mediums below: 

 

The Illustrated Editions: 

Jim Kay version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition

MinaLima version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Deluxe Illustrated Edition

The Hogwarts House Editions of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets are available below: 

(The best house) Hufflepuff - Black and Yellow: Hardcover and Paperback
Slytherin - Green and Black: Hardcover and Paperback

Ravenclaw - Blue and Black: Hardcover and Paperback

Gryffindor - Red and Black: Hardcover and Paperback

Audible has recently released a new "Full-Cast Audio Edition" of all seven books. You can find this edition of the audiobook here. 


HBO is recreating Harry Potter as a TV series. You can see the trailer below. The Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone TV Series will be released on December 25th, 2026.

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.