After college, author Louis Sachar said that he was only interested in ever writing one book for children. That book became Sideways Stories from Wayside School. After the tremendous critical, popular, and financial success of Sideways Stories from Wayside School, though, Sachar made a career out of writing children's books - including three more books in the Wayside School series.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School is a short story cycle novel which tells thirty separate, but interconnected stories about students and teachers in the eponymous Wayside School. The book pays particular attention to Mrs. Jewls' class, which is located on the thirtieth floor of the Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways.
Almost immediately after its release, the Wayside School series became incredibly popular and sold well. The series has been read by fifteen million young readers. It has also become one of the most popular children's book series of all time - and Sideways Stories from Wayside School started that.