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Lunch Lady Series (by Jarrett J. Krosoczka)

common sense media says

Wacky graphic novel series serves justice with sloppy joes.

parents & educators say
  • 67% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages
See all 7 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is some minor violence in these very funny comic books, but it all stays very exaggerated and cartoony. The Lunch Lady is an admirable and surprising heroine.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: Minor emphasis on some lessons including: seeing is not always believing, that you should stand up for what is fair and good, and that kids should read more.
Positive role models: Lunch Lady stands up against evil and encourages her students to do so, as well.  Students Hector, Terrence, and Dee don't let Milmoe's bullying get to them - they stay positive and friendly.  They help Lunch Lady thwart evil at their school.
Violence & scariness: As an undercover spy, Lunch Lady is always stopping bad guys in their tracks -- which includes employing some exaggerated, cartoony violence. The violence seems to become more of the story as the books progress, but it always stays cartoony and off the wall.  Also, main kid characters, Hector, Terrence, and Dee, are somewhat bullied by class bully Milmoe.
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More on Lunch Lady Series

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

  • Families can talk about bullying. Milmoe bullies main characters Moe, Terrence, and Dee.  How do they respond to his taunts?  Do you think they did the right thing?

  • The Lunch Lady has an alter ego that most of her students know nothing about.  Have you ever seen a school teacher or your lunch lady outside of school hours? What are some of your favorite alter egos in books or movies? Why do most superheroes have them?

What's the story?

What's the story?

The Lunch Lady is an undercover spy at Thompson Brook School solving crimes and serving lunch to students who have no idea of her alter ego. Along with her fellow lunch lady, Betty, and the Breakfast Bunch -- students Hector, Terrence, and Dee -- Lunch Lady foils the criminal and saves the day every time.  Whether it be a robot masquerading as a substitute teacher, an author who has been hypnotized, or an evil league of librarians, Lunch Lady uses her brains and technological gadgets to put things back to right.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

 

The extreme cartoony nature of these illustrations are a good fit for these outrageous and funny stories.

Series summary

Book by book
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute
8
 

This fun introduction to the wacky graphic novel series -- soon to be a movie starring Amy Poehler -- shows the Lunch Lady and the Breakfast Bunch at their best when they find out a robot has been impersonating the new substitute teacher. These books will delight those new to comic books as well as seasoned readers.

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians
8
 

The Breakfast Bunch join Lunch Lady in finding out why the school's librarians are acting so strange. They are plotting world domination, and Lunch Lady is going undercover to stop them. As in all of the books in the series, the illustrations fit expertly within the comical and offbeat nature of the story.

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta
8
 

Lewis Scribson, author of Flippy Bunny, is coming to visit Thompson Brook. But why was he acting like such an "odd duck"? Lunch Lady and the Breakfast Bunch are going to find out. The violence is more prevalent in this third book in the series, but still stays at a cartoony, exaggerated level. Kids will love to see what crimes Lunch Lady is solving this time.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Illustrator: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication date: July 28, 2009
Number of pages: 96
Paperback price: $5.99
Read Aloud: 8
Read Alone: 8
This review was written by Teen Librarian
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

ReadinMamma
parent
8
 
Things were going great until the new book came out
We have read several books in the series and really enjoyed them.. UNTIL we read the recent release: Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (2010). I was very upset that this book had some emphasis on girls liking boys, lyrics to songs were listed that I feel are NOT appropriate for children ("Look at that girl, shakin' those hips. I just want to kiss her lips" and "She's gonna be kissin' me"), and one of the kids mentions "farting". We are teaching our kids that dating is not something to focus on until they are much older and we do not like them using a "crass" way to talk. Very, very, disappointed in this one, Jarrett!
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coolgabe123
kid, 9 years old
2
 
i really wanna read this
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KateDaffodil
kid, 10 years old
8
 
This book was fun, because It's a comic.
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squirrel97
kid, 13 years old
9
 
A fun and adventurous book!
This is kind of funny, yet the art isn't very great. The story and adventure is great, though, except it's always the same storyline in every book.
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wildery
kid, 8 years old
6
 
I super recommend this.
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burnsrunner
adult
8
 
My daughter and I are just getting into the comic style, and this looks right up our alley. It looks as though it would be a good book for Tween and under. Currently we are awaiting the new Disney Fairies comics that coming out this month. There are similar stories in there about bullying and friendship. So adorable too!
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CSM Screen ...
parent of 6 and 9 year old
5
 
My kids love these books, and so do we. My 5 year old read and re-read both books in the series multiple times and could work out many of the words himself. The lunch ladies protect the kids from evil cyborgs and librarians, and the kids learn to stand up for themselves.
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