The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School

The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School
Candace Fleming
Schwartz and Wade, 2007 186 pages
Grades 3-6
School/Humor

Principal Struggles has a dilemma. She can't find a teacher willing to take on the highly "spirited" fourth grade class at Aesop Elementary. To the rescue arrives Mr. Jupiter, a former student at the school and now a well-rounded world traveler with many interesting talents under his belt. At first the students think this school year will be business as usual, but Mr. Jupiter with his unusual teaching style, never-ending patience, and eccentric ways soon shows them that the year will be anything but. All of the fourth grade students, as well as the school librarian, immediately fall under his spell and Mr. Jupiter guides his pupils through the year, teaching them important life-lessons as well as reading and math. Each short chapter is a separate vignette offering a modern and relatable retelling of a fable of Aesop with the traditional moral at the end. After an incredible year it is time for Mr. Jupiter to say goodbye to the class as he leaves for his next adventure, but is he truly ready to go?

A real "Mary Poppins" of teachers, prolific author of young people, Fleming, creates a character sure to be the envy of young readers, as well as educators. Mr. Jupiter is the star of the show, yet Fleming also manages to create other characters within the class to create an interesting mix of personalities. Sometimes the students are a bit one-dimensional, but that is to be expected in a humorous book for this age level. Filled with puns and humor, this is a perfect choice to hand to fans of Wayside School, yet it is actually a bit more clever than silly. Readers will love to be in on the joke as they discover the puns hidden within names and chapter headings. Throughout the hilarity Fleming manages to offer some messages about kindness, fairness, honesty, test taking, and the coolness of the Dewey Decimal system. The tie-ins with the classic fables make the book a great choice for school settings and may lead kids to delve into the originals. My only complaint is that the librarian is a stereotypical "shusher", but that could be my own personal sensitivities. This is a highly entertaining book that will be a surefire hit with all readers, who might actually learn some ethical lessons between the chuckles.