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The Best School Year Ever  By  cover art

The Best School Year Ever

By: Barbara Robinson
Narrated by: Elaine Stritch
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Publisher's summary

The Worst Kids in the History of the World!

When anything goes wrong at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, from the hexing of Bus Six to the mysterious disappearance of the kindergarten gerbil, it's sure to have a Herdman behind it. The Herdmans are more than famous, they're outlaws. They smoke cigars, lie, and set fire to things, and that's only when they bother to come to school! Then a school project forces the students to think of compliments for all their classmates, including the Herdmans. Is it possible that behind their outrageous pranks there may be something good about this crazy clan after all?

©2004 Barbara Robinson (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Readers...will enthusiastically welcome the return of the six cigar-smoking Herdman kids." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Best School Year Ever

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a great story!

the story was made even better by the narrator's gravely voice. you must read it!

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome and fun listen!

What made the experience of listening to The Best School Year Ever the most enjoyable?

The Herdman's are back with this fun, hilarious classic about very spirited children coming to your school. It's like Amelia Bedelia for third and fourth graders. Their antics leave you laughing!

What about Elaine Stritch’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen too. Miss Stitch's voice is clear and full of merriment just like the Herdmans.

Any additional comments?

You must listen to at least one Herdman book before you die. Though written for third and fourth graders, add this to your bucket list!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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An amazing display of writing ability

I love this book. For the past few years I have been reading it over and over before bed. I love the character development of Imogene Herdman! As we journey through the story we can see how she masks her empathy, creativity, and kindness with a tough exterior. This is a great story for learning not to judge others who are different or who have harder lives than us.

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1 person found this helpful

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☺️☺️☺️☺️😂☺️☺️☺️😂💗💗💗💗💗💗😍😍😍😍😍

Yay best book ever I love it so much it is amazing I will listen to it forever

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Don't Think Just Get It

This was really cool I bought all three 1st Book is always topped by the next. well worth any price. I'm 30 years old I enjoyed this so much I'm just surprised there aren't more of these.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great listen with kids

Really funny and great narration. We laughed out loud many times. Wish the author had written more books. The Best Christmas pageant ever is also wonderful

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Super story read very well

As the sequel to "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" this book brings us another story of the perpetually misbehaving Herdman children as told by Beth, one of the other children who goes to Woodrow Wilson Elementary School with the six of them. As a school assignment Beth has to find compliments for Imogene, compliments on her character, which needless to say, seems impossible at the beginning. The late actress Elaine Stretch lent her wonderfully gravelly voice to the story and made it even better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fun! Fun, Fun!

The reader brought the characters alive and kept me laughing. Robinson's newest story did not disappoint. Keep them coming.
Fun!

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  • TJ
  • 12-27-23

Super narration

Loved the book, but the narrator was the best part. Made the book come alive.

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Clever and insightful!

This book is a WONDERFUL way to engage children and to spark interesting conversation on a variety of topics! Loved this book!!

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