Wayside

There's no doubt that Wayside School is a bit, well, different from most other grammar schools. Its very structure sets it apart: A builder's error led the school's 30 classrooms to be stacked on top of each other rather than laid out in a traditional one-story building. At Wayside School, you might be greeted by the cows who roam free amongst the students or the crotchety principal, Mr. Kidswatter, who ranks kids at the very top his list of life's irritants. The rest of the staff is as peculiar as their leader, right down to Miss Mush, the fearless school cook who delights in the unusual concoctions she creates ... which send the students running for their brown bags.

This fast-paced series is packed with the zany characters and scenarios that young grade-schoolers will love. Even better, it's virtually free of content likely to bother parents. Occasional mild cartoon peril and rare mention of crushes between students are about the extent of it, making Wayside a fun option for kids who've outgrown preschool shows but aren't quite ready for the true tween stuff.