The Very Best Teacher
Raincoast Books / Sourcebooks
By Y Shil Kim, illustrated by Miku Moriuchi
24 pages
age 5-8
Synopsis from Raincoast Books:
Tomorrow is Ms. Tulip’s birthday and a celebration is in order! But how will her ten students decide on the right present? Luckily ten minds are better than one when choosing the ideal gift for the very best teacher.
A classroom teacher can be a child’s best friend and The Very Best Teacher shows how Ms. Tulip’s classroom of kids want to celebrate their favourite teacher when her birthday arrives. The kids pool together, chatting in the schoolyard, figuring out the best way to celebrate their teacher. Although each child contributes an idea based on their interest, the final decision is made as a group.
The final gift, a letter from the group, enables each child to share what they love most about his or her teacher in a personal way. As the kids head back to school, I like the idea of recognizing friendship (either classmates or teachers) in a personal way that doesn’t involve “things”. The letter is a gift I’m sure every teacher would love to receive and every student love to contribute. The papercut illustrations just add to the cuteness of this nice school story.
Additional Reading: I Wish I Could Draw.
You can find a copy of The Very Best Teacher from Raincoast Books. Visit our Kid’s Books section for other great book recommendations.