Dan Gutman

Dan Gutman is an American children's author known for creating multiple successful book series including the Baseball Card Adventures and My Weird School. Since beginning his writing career in the 1980s, he has published over 160 books for young readers, combining sports, history, fantasy and humor. After initially working as a magazine editor focused on video games, Gutman found his niche writing children's literature. The Baseball Card Adventures series, which began with Honus & Me in 1997, follows a young boy who can travel through time by touching baseball cards to meet famous players from history. The My Weird School series, launched in 2004, has become his most popular work featuring humorous stories about elementary school life. The series and its spin-offs have sold millions of copies and continue to expand with new titles. Despite having no formal training in creative writing, Gutman developed a distinctive style combining historical facts with fantastical plots aimed at reluctant young readers. His work often incorporates sports themes, particularly baseball history, while maintaining an accessible reading level for elementary and middle grade students.

Readers consistently rate Dan Gutman's books 4+ stars across platforms, particularly for his Baseball Card Adventures and My Weird School series. Parents and teachers report these books get reluctant readers engaged, with many children reading multiple books in each series. Readers appreciate: - Humor that appeals to elementary students - Mix of history and fiction in Baseball Card Adventures - Fast-paced plots that maintain kids' interest - Characters kids relate to - Educational elements woven naturally into stories Common criticisms: - Some formulaic writing in series books - Basic vocabulary and simple plots - Historical accuracy issues in some Baseball Card Adventures Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 average across all books (150,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 average (25,000+ reviews) Scholastic: 4.5/5 average One teacher noted: "My struggling 3rd grade readers fight over who gets to read the My Weird School books next." A parent reviewer wrote: "The baseball cards series got my son interested in both reading and history."

Baseball Card Adventures series - A collection of novels following Joe Stoshack, who can time travel by touching baseball cards to meet legendary players throughout history.

Honus & Me - The first book in the Baseball Card Adventures series where Joe discovers a rare T206 Honus Wagner card and travels back to 1909 to meet the baseball legend.

My Weird School series - Stories centered around A.J. and his classmates at Ella Mentry School, where unusual teachers create bizarre situations.

The Million Dollar Kick - A novel about Whisper Nelson, who despite hating soccer, enters a contest for a chance to win a million dollars by scoring a single goal.

The Million Dollar Putt - A story about Ed Bogard, a blind teenager who gets a chance to win a million dollars by making a single putt in a golf competition.

The Homework Machine - A novel about four students who create a machine that does their homework, leading to unexpected consequences.

The Kid Who Ran For President - A story about a 12-year-old boy who decides to run for President of the United States.

The Get Rich Quick Club - A tale of five kids who form a club with the goal of becoming millionaires by the end of summer.

Johnny Hangtime - A novel about a young stunt double who performs dangerous stunts for movies while keeping his career secret from his mother.

Dr. Brad Has Gone Mad! - Part of the My Weird School series featuring a school counselor who believes he can read minds.

Gordon Korman writes series fiction combining humor and school settings like Gutman's My Weird School books. His Swindle and MacDonald Hall series feature kids getting into mischief and solving problems with creative schemes.

Matt Christopher focused primarily on sports-themed fiction for young readers, particularly baseball stories. His books combine real sports knowledge with fictional plotlines similar to Gutman's Baseball Card Adventures.

Lincoln Peirce creates the Big Nate series mixing school stories with comic-style humor and illustrations. His work shares the same elementary school setting and humorous tone as Gutman's My Weird School series.

Mike Lupica writes sports fiction for middle-grade readers incorporating baseball and other athletics. His books blend sports action with realistic characters facing personal challenges like Gutman's sports-themed works.

Andrew Clements specializes in realistic school stories featuring students navigating elementary school life and relationships. His books like Frindle and The Report Card share similar school settings and accessible reading levels with Gutman's work.