Mr Tony Is Full of Baloney!
#11 of 21 in My Weird School Series
What’s inside...
The book tells the story of a group of children who discover that their school's lunch lady is a gourmet chef and they try to convince her to come out of retirement. With more than 30 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! The weirdness never stops as A.J.'s mom gets a job, so he has to go to After School Kids' Kare. The guy who runs it, Mr. Tony, wants to set a world record by making the world's largest pizza. A.J. and the gang must find a way to escape the child-care room and run for their lives.
Character compass
Arlo "A.J." Jervis
Andrea Young
Mr. Tony
Discussion points
How do you think A.J. felt when Mr. Tony introduced his crazy ideas? Can you think of a time when you faced something unexpected at school?
What do you think about the way the characters in the book interacted with Mr. Tony? Would you have reacted similarly or differently?
What lessons do you think Mr. Tony wanted his students to learn from his unconventional methods?
If you could create your own funny school event like Mr. Tony did, what would it be and why?
How do you think the story would change if you were one of the characters in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start discussions by asking your child to summarize what happened in the book, and gently guide them towards deeper reflection.
Relate questions back to their own school experiences to make the conversation more personal and engaging.
Highlight the humor in Mr. Tony's methods and ask if anything similarly amusing has ever happened at their school.
Encourage imaginative thinking by asking your child how they would change the story or add their own twist.
Praise their insights and thoughts to build their confidence in expressing opinions and ideas.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of creativity
Explanation: In 'Mr. Tony Is Full of Baloney!', the protagonist engages in creative activities, such as making a school newspaper, that showcase the joy and value of being imaginative.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by exploring their own creative interests, whether that's through drawing, writing, or any form of artistic expression, fostering their unique talents and abilities.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: The book highlights the cooperative efforts of classmates working together on the school newspaper, demonstrating how teamwork can lead to successful outcomes.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to participate in group activities, whether at school or in extracurriculars, promoting cooperation and understanding of different perspectives.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of challenges
Explanation: Characters in the book face various challenges while publishing the newspaper but manage to overcome them through resilience and determination.
Real-World Application: Children learn to persist and maintain a positive attitude despite difficulties or setbacks they might encounter in schoolwork or general life scenarios.
Example Lesson: Value of honesty
Explanation: The story conveys the negative repercussions of dishonesty when characters encounter trouble due to exaggerations or lies in their articles, emphasizing the importance of truth.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand the importance of being truthful in their daily interactions and teaches them the consequences of dishonest behavior.
Example Lesson: Importance of communication
Explanation: Through the setting of a school newspaper, the book demonstrates how effective communication can influence and inform others.
Real-World Application: By learning this lesson, children can improve their verbal and written communication skills, becoming more effective in sharing ideas and expressing themselves clearly.