THANK YOU, TEACHER!

As the school year draws to an end, students recount their classroom adventures and sing the praises of a dedicated teacher.

A diverse group of children stand before their teary-eyed, brown-skinned teacher and prepare to “sing [their] thank-you song.” As they reminisce, we see the teacher cheering a student on through stage fright at a school play, chasing the class’s escaped pet, comforting a scared child when a spider shows up, encouraging the students to share, and more. Each scene is accompanied by a brief, upbeat rhyme that says it all (“Thanks for all the science stuff. / We love it when the class erupts!”). Cheerful, chunky-outlined illustrations reminiscent of Varon’s graphic-novel art make this picture book solidly appealing for early elementary school students. Each moment is endearing, with gobs of visual interest and opportunities for conversation starters about feelings and school memories. The educator’s efforts shine through, emphasizing the importance of showing action through care—adult readers will come away stirred and eager to make an impact on the children in their lives. However, this volume is best shared out of the classroom; if a teacher were to share it with their students, it could be perceived as awkward or gratuitous. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A loving tribute to the efforts of hardworking educators.