Nickelodeon announced that it will premiere its new animated series Welcome to Wayside on Monday, June 25 at 12:30 p.m. Based on the best-selling book series by Louis Sachar (Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Holes) the 26-episode, half-hour show series will air regularly on weekdays at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Produced by Nelvana, Welcome to Wayside takes place at a wacky, 30-story grade school where off-the-wall events are an everyday occurrence. The series chronicles the adventures of Mrs. Jewls’ class on the 30th floor and is seen through the eyes of Todd, an average kid who is new to the school. H befriends Maurecia, the tough girl who finds it easier to express herself with physical actions rather than words, Dana, an over-emotional over-achiever and Myron, an ineptly ambitious politician. Their peers include a boy who wears his Halloween elf costume every day, a kid who spends his days upside down and a girl who’s always asleep.

In the first part of the premiere episode, ‘Oh, Great Leader,’ Principal Kidswatter mistakes a surprise birthday party as a plot to overthrow him and recruits Todd to be his spy for him. Te second half, ‘Meet the Pets,’ everyone brings their pet to class and leaves Todd, the only kid who doesn’t have one, to watch the animals while they go out for recess. Chaos ensues when the pets escape, but Todd is able to learn a lesson in responsibility when a visit from the past encourages him to take control.

Sideways Stories From Wayside School, the first book in the series, was written in 1976. Sachar has since written more than twenty books for young people, including four more in the Wayside series. His books have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 30 languages. He also wrote the screenplay for Disney’s successful live-action feature film based on his Newbery award-winning young adult book, Holes.