Dan Gutman Books in Order

A reality television crew arrives to film Ella Mentry School, where teachers and students compete for a prize. Director Ms. Beard asks everyone to behave normally, but the chance to become a star brings out even stranger behavior.

Coke and Pepsi McDonald's dangerous family road trip continues as Archie Clone pursues them across America. From museums to stadiums and amusement rides, the twins face elaborate traps while their parents keep treating their warnings as jokes.

The FBI discovers Stosh's ability to travel through baseball cards and sends him to warn President Roosevelt about Pearl Harbor. A Ted Williams card takes him to 1941, where his own plans for the player's future complicate the mission.

A.J. and his friends visit the mall for Christmas, where Santa's appearance coincides with a concert by young rapper Cray-Z. When excited fans create chaos, the children find themselves trying to rescue a holiday outing that has gone wrong.

Professor Dr. Nicholas visits A.J.'s class to improve its history scores, but prefers unusual subjects such as toilets to traditional facts. Her homemade time machine offers a different kind of field trip, with the risk of getting stranded in time.

A.J. and his friends set out trick-or-treating with costumes and enormous ambitions for collecting candy. Their enthusiasm for chocolate turns Halloween into another comic adventure, accompanied by holiday facts, puzzles, and games featuring the Ella Mentry School gang.

Alexia's mother takes charge of Ella Mentry School's fundraiser to buy new playground equipment. Her increasingly strange sales ideas involve the teachers and children, but pushing the campaign too far threatens consequences bigger than a disappointing fundraising total.

Dan Gutman explains spelling, punctuation, grammar, and storytelling through practical advice and humorous examples. With appearances by A.J. and Andrea, the guide helps young writers turn ideas into clear sentences, organized paragraphs, and stories that hold a reader's attention.

Coke and Pepsi McDonald continue their family road trip toward Graceland while enemies prepare new ambushes. A masked villain called Evil Elvis joins the pursuit, leaving the twins to decode messages and survive attacks among America's unusual tourist attractions.

A tropical storm cuts short A.J.'s vacation and forces his family to stay with Andrea. When the children are sent to a camp designed to prepare them for school, they recruit their friends to make the remaining summer memorable.

Mayor Hubble invites A.J. and his friends to an Easter celebration at his mansion. The promise of a golden egg containing a thousand dollars turns the egg hunt into a chaotic competition where everyone wants to claim the prize.

Coke and Pepsi resume their cross-country trip in a convertible, traveling toward Texas while their old enemies claim to have quit chasing them. New coded messages from a robotic voice suggest another pursuer is waiting to catch them.

Low reading scores bring a new helper to Ella Mentry School: Miss Klute, a therapy dog. A.J. and his friends become eager to read aloud to her, but their attempt to give the dog a break leads to trouble.

Principal Klutz hires Mr. Jack to teach self-defense at Ella Mentry School. The instructor is more interested in admiring himself and acting like a movie hero, leaving A.J. and the gang wondering how they are supposed to learn anything.

Principal Klutz hires talent coach Mrs. Lane to prepare the children for Ella Mentry School's show. A.J. struggles to identify his own talent, while the coach's desire for the spotlight threatens to overshadow the students she is supposed to help.

French exchange student Pierre joins A.J.'s class during Valentine's week and takes an interest in Andrea. A challenge between the boys turns holiday romance into a comic rivalry, with themed facts, trivia, and puzzles alongside the story.

Coke and Pepsi face the final stretch of their dangerous road trip after encountering a strange light in Roswell. Traveling toward the West Coast, they must survive more villains and deadly traps while hoping their parents finally believe their warnings.

Miss Brown helps A.J. and his classmates prepare creative projects for the Brain Games, including toothpick bridges and remote-controlled cars. Competing against Dirk School for a trip to PizzaWorld turns inventive classroom work into a contest with tempting stakes.

A.J.'s new teacher dresses as different superheroes to teach subjects such as rodents and volcanoes. When a threat confronts Ella Mentry School, the children must find out whether Mr. Cooper's costumes come with the ability to protect them.

A million-dollar donation lets Ella Mentry School create a television station for its morning announcements. New media teacher Ms. Cuddy wants larger audiences, pushing A.J. and his classmates into a broadcasting project where chasing ratings threatens to take over.

Rappy is a velociraptor who speaks in rhymes throughout the day. This picture book tells how his unusual habit began and follows his efforts to embrace a way of talking that makes him different from those around him.

Ralph Branca asks Stosh to travel back to 1951 and undo the famous home run that cost his team the pennant. But changing that moment could also alter the future of rookie Willie Mays.

A.J. and Andrea explore geography through unusual facts about countries, places, and the world around them. Photos and illustrations accompany their discoveries, offering a playful way to learn beyond familiar classroom facts.

A.J. and Andrea join their classmates on a museum visit. Their guide has been warned that one of the children may misbehave, turning an ordinary school outing into a guessing game about who will cause trouble and how.

When Mr. Cooper gets sick, Miss Daisy returns to teach A.J.'s class. Her plans involve eating bonbons instead of learning, while her fear of germs makes third grade stranger than the children expected.

The teachers at Ella Mentry School go on strike, leaving A.J. and his friends with a new principal. Mr. Nick rejects rules and makes learning optional, creating a school day with unexpected consequences.

Mrs. Meyer visits Ella Mentry School to teach A.J. and his classmates about fire safety. But the local fire department's unusual expert seems far too enthusiastic about flames, raising questions about her own safety.

Rappy the dinosaur feels nervous about his first school day and making friends. His talent for rapping helps him face a bully, but learning to spell presents a challenge that calls for someone else's help.

A.J. and Andrea investigate the unusual side of sports, from surprising plays to strange traditions. Photos and illustrations accompany their facts, giving young readers a playful introduction to what happens beyond the scoreboard.

Mr. Cooper’s class prepares for a talent show, but A.J. cannot think of anything he does well enough to perform. With the big day approaching, he must find a way to take part alongside his classmates at Ella Mentry School.

Four children are chosen by a mysterious billionaire to travel to 1863 and photograph Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. They must work together to capture the speech without being caught or losing their chance to return.

Mr. Cooper announces that his class will get a pet, and Alexia hopes for something exciting, such as a snake. The children discover that choosing an animal is only the beginning when its care becomes their responsibility.

A.J. and Andrea explore American history through unusual facts about presidents, explorers, and everyday life. Photos and illustrations accompany their discoveries, bringing unexpected details and bathroom humor to subjects usually encountered in school.

Retired scientist Miss Tracy visits Ella Mentry School to explain planets and the solar system. A.J. and his friends prepare a school play, but his assignment as Uranus makes the lesson especially awkward.

Alexia's grandmother visits Ella Mentry School for Grandparents Day and shares her unusual inventions. Inspired, A.J. and his friends devise a creation they expect to make them rich, but success is far from guaranteed.

Picture day brings photographer Ms. Joni to Ella Mentry School, where she wants to turn A.J. into a supermodel. Her enthusiastic plans become even stranger when the children encounter the mysterious Picture Day Zombie.

Aliens take Rappy the dinosaur away from recess in a flying saucer. Their leader wants him to live on Mars, leaving Rappy to decide whether to stay or use his rapping skills to get home.

Rappy's class visits the library, where staying quiet is a challenge for a dinosaur who loves to rap. When his classmates grow bored, he tries to show them how much fun books can offer.

Rappy reluctantly joins a trip to the supermarket and discovers that shopping can be fun. But knocking over a huge toilet paper display angers the manager, leaving him to respond with some quick rhyming.

A.J. and Andrea introduce unusual science facts about space, human beings, and bodily functions. Photos and illustrations support a collection designed to answer curious questions and show the surprising side of familiar scientific topics.

The Flashback Four travel aboard the Titanic to photograph its sinking and return home. Once there, they disagree about saving passengers or rescuing a priceless book, complicating their mission on the doomed ship.

A.J. and Andrea explore dinosaurs and other extinct animals through unusual facts, photos, and illustrations. Fossils, enormous prehistoric creatures, and even fossilized dinosaur droppings offer young readers an amusing route into learning about the past.

A.J. and Andrea investigate the surprising lives of animals, from familiar pets to unusual creatures. Photos and illustrations accompany their collection of facts, revealing odd behaviors and unexpected details about the animal world.

Television meteorologist Sprinkles Newman visits Ella Mentry School to teach A.J. and his friends about weather. Their lesson becomes much stranger when a hurricane arrives, putting their new knowledge up against an unexpected classroom disturbance.

Mr. Will brings ice cream treats to Ella Mentry School, but Dr. Carbles has forbidden desserts. A.J. and his friends face a clash between the tempting sweets and an administrator determined to enforce his rule.

New lunch lady Ms. Hall wants A.J. and his friends to embrace vegetables and healthier meals. The children resist her campaign, turning school lunches into a battle over what belongs on their plates.

Ryan recruits A.J. and Andrea for a curling team with help from Coach Deen. Learning to sweep stones toward the target proves challenging, but getting the teammates to cooperate may be even harder than mastering their unfamiliar sport.

The Flashback Four travel to Pompeii in AD 79 to photograph Mount Vesuvius erupting. Capturing the historic moment is only part of their mission: they also need to escape before the disaster traps them.

A.J. expects a summer full of fun until three familiar spirits show him summers past, present, and future. Their visits challenge his behavior and raise the possibility that his vacation could become a disappointment.

Dr. Floss visits Ella Mentry School on National Dessert Day to teach dental health. Instead, she encourages the children to eat sugar so they will need a dentist, turning the lesson into a questionable business plan.

Guest scientist Dr. Snow joins Ella Mentry School's science fair to help the children conduct experiments. A.J. and his friends encounter unusual projects and begin wondering what their supposed scientific guide is really planning.

A.J. and his friends meet a substitute teacher who is a digital assistant, complete with jokes and drone-delivered pizza. When her settings stop being fun, the children face the problem of shutting her down.

A.J. and Andrea explore ancient history through unusual facts about daily life, inventions, and customs. Photos and illustrations accompany discoveries about Egyptians and Romans, offering a playful introduction to societies far removed from today's world.

Dan Gutman offers practical reading advice alongside exercises for identifying context clues and a story's main idea. Young readers can practice understanding what they read and build confidence through approachable tips and activities.

A.J. and Andrea explore unusual food facts, from enormous treats to the history of everyday meals. Photos and illustrations accompany their discoveries, giving curious readers an amusing way to learn more about what people eat.

Poetry Week challenges Rappy and his classmates to write about their favorite things, with a cupcake awaiting the best poet. Their rhyming dinosaur friend explores whether his love of rap can help him succeed.

A secret agency sends the Flashback Four to 1804 to film Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr's duel. Faced with the event itself, they must decide whether to record history or try to change it.

A.J. and his friends join the Beaver Scouts expecting campfires and badges. Their leader, Miss Blake, focuses on disasters instead, leaving them to discover whether her training will help on an overnight camping trip.

A.J.'s ninth birthday brings family, friends, and teachers together for a backyard celebration. Party planner Mr. Marty accidentally books rival clowns and an assortment of entertainers, turning the birthday bash into a crowded comic complication.

New music teacher Mrs. Bacon prepares A.J. and his classmates for a recital. Their playing must impress crabby Dr. Carbles, leaving the class to face the challenge of performing well for a demanding audience.

A.J. and Andrea face rival students in a Presidents' Day competition offering prizes and school bragging rights. A.J.'s limited knowledge threatens their chances, making teamwork essential if they hope to bring home a victory.

Siblings Paige and Turner explore Albert Einstein’s life through unusual facts about his childhood, schooling, scientific work, and appearance. Their conversations introduce the famous physicist while revealing a less familiar person behind his public reputation.

Paige and Turner investigate Amelia Earhart’s life, from an adventurous childhood to record-breaking flights and her disappearance. Unusual stories about backyard roller coasters, worm races, and paying for lessons introduce the woman behind the aviation legend.

Harry Mancini lives in Houdini's former home and knows all about the escape artist. When texts arrive from someone claiming to be Houdini, an offer of time travel forces Harry to weigh adventure against a possible hoax.

Miss Aker visits Ella Mentry School to help A.J. and his friends build things from everyday materials. Their creative projects become more troubling when they construct a robot intelligent enough to plan world domination.

A.J. and his classmates visit NASA headquarters with an eccentric guide, Mr. Corbett. Their field trip takes an unexpected turn when A.J. accidentally launches the class into space, leaving the children facing adventures far beyond an ordinary tour.

World traveler Mrs. Barr visits A.J.'s class to improve their geography knowledge. Her ever-present suitcase and unusual habits spark his suspicion, turning a lesson about other countries into a search for what she might be hiding.

Low test scores and rising stress bring wellness expert Ms. Jo-Jo to Ella Mentry School. She offers turtle yoga and crystal salt lamps, but A.J. and his friends still have a difficult exam ahead.

Siblings Paige and Turner explore Muhammad Ali’s childhood, boxing career, and civil rights activism through surprising facts. His fear of flying and unusual habits offer another perspective on the athlete who became a world heavyweight champion.

A.J. and his friends can win a trip to Dizzyland by reading five thousand books. They tackle the challenge enthusiastically, but school board president Dr. Carbles doubts their chances and may have other plans for their reward.

A.J. and his friends are finishing third grade and can choose their graduation speaker. They want famous singer and rapper Lil Mouse, but getting their favorite celebrity to the ceremony may be harder than expected.

A.J.'s class faces Dirk School in a charity softball game with an unpleasant penalty for losing. Retired baseball player Mr. Ott coaches the team, but his unusual methods leave the children wondering whether victory is possible.

Mr. Klutz's unexpected retirement leaves Ella Mentry School choosing between rival would-be principals. Comedian Mrs. Stoker takes the job, but Mrs. Jafee challenges her in a joke contest that puts her new position at risk.

Siblings Paige and Turner explore Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life through unusual facts, from repeated driving-test failures to her legal career. Their conversations and illustrations introduce the person behind the Supreme Court justice and her public reputation.

Paige and Turner examine Theodore Roosevelt’s life through unusual stories about his childhood, military service, and presidency. White House animals and a speech delivered after a shooting accompany an introduction to his complicated political legacy.

Saint Patrick's Day celebrations turn chaotic when A.J. spots a small man dressed in green around school. Convinced a leprechaun is causing trouble, he and his friends try to catch the visitor before the mischief spreads.

A.J. and his friends tour New York City with Mrs. Mentry, visiting famous sights and cultural landmarks. When the children become separated from their chaperone, the sightseeing trip turns into a challenge of navigating the city by themselves.

Paige and Turner trace Lucille Ball’s journey from an impoverished childhood to film roles, television fame, and executive success. Unusual anecdotes introduce her marriage to Desi Arnaz and her influence on shows beyond her own.

Starting fourth grade brings A.J. and his friends a new teacher with a passion for practical jokes. Miss Banks's constant tricks push them toward their limit as they try to stop falling for her pranks.

A museum president introduces Ella Mentry School to his unusual ideas about art. A.J. finds the subject boring until Professor Pitt praises his assignment as a masterpiece, suddenly turning an uninterested student into the art world’s next supposed sensation.

Siblings Paige and Turner explore the Beatles’ childhoods, early musical careers, and rise to fame through surprising anecdotes. Their account introduces the four musicians as individuals while following how they came together to form the band.

A.J. and his classmates attend a live recording of Uncle Fred’s television show, enjoying songs, games and puppets. When they discover that the host’s childish behavior extends beyond his performance, they wonder how to help him grow up.

Dr. Carbles cancels every school holiday, leaving A.J. and his friends facing months without a break. Librarian Mrs. Roopy proposes celebrating obscure real holidays instead, challenging the children to restore some fun despite the school board president’s restrictions.

Principal Stoker wants Ella Mentry School to grow a vegetable garden, while A.J. and his friends would rather plant junk food. Gardening instructor Miss Nichol takes charge, but her arrival makes the project increasingly chaotic.

A.J. and his friends are finally old enough for after-school clubs, but Ella Mentry offers unusually strange choices. With Mrs. Marge overseeing activities from lawn mower racing to underwater hockey, finding the right group becomes an adventure.

Falling math scores bring Ms. Greene to Ella Mentry School, where she finds numbers in everything from sports to height. A.J. and his friends face unusual problems and activities as their lessons become increasingly difficult to escape.

Tired of Miss Banks’s pranks, A.J. and his classmates decide to retaliate. Their principal turns the rivalry into a weeklong contest between teachers and students, with a candy party at stake for children who can outprank the adults.

A.J.’s plans for a summer of television and video games collapse when his parents send him to sleepaway camp. Mosquitoes, bees and animals invading the cabins make Camp Ahdoanwanna an unlikely place for the relaxing vacation he wanted.

A.J. and his friends gather for a playground sleepover, roasting marshmallows and inventing scary stories around a campfire. When something seems to lurk in the nearby woods, the children wonder whether their imaginary monsters have become real.

Ella Mentry School holds a poetry contest that every student must enter. A.J. has little interest in writing rhymes, but a secret prize changes his outlook and puts him in competition with Andrea, the school’s most accomplished poet.

New student teacher Miss Sherman earns the children’s admiration until her obsession with social media takes over. After a video of A.J. goes viral, the class tries increasingly strange stunts to maintain their unexpected fame.

A.J. and his friends learn cooking, sewing, and woodworking from married teachers Mr. and Mrs. Phelps. Their instructors keep fighting, leaving the children to work out whether they can help the couple get along again.

Career Day stops abruptly when a flood hits the boys’ bathroom at Ella Mentry School. Plumber Mr. Plummer arrives to fix the damage, but he also wants to know whether A.J. caused the watery disaster.

After losing a spelling bee to Dirk School, Ella Mentry’s students decide they need a mascot. A mysterious gorilla boosts their spirits, but A.J. and Andrea still face their rivals in the next geography competition.

Frequent student accidents prompt Principal Stoker to recruit safety expert Mrs. Granger. Her efforts to protect everyone soon go too far, leaving A.J. and his friends trying to restore normality while avoiding further injuries themselves.

A.J. and Andrea are sent to rival Dirk School for a month, where their teacher is a real clown. Beneath Mrs. Towne’s jokes and makeup, however, they discover someone who may need their help.