Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a snappy volume sure to land on many a teacher's year-end gift pile, an adoring classroom of lively students bids a gratitude-filled farewell to their intrepid leader. As the teary-eyed teacher, portrayed with brown skin, sits in the classroom's circle-time chair, their students prepare to literally sing their praises, offering a rhyming remembrance of time spent together ("Thanks for catching Mr. Furr./ We didn't know how fast you were," Berry writes). Varon's candid mixed-media images form a yearbook-like montage, spotlighting the teacher alongside smiling classmates of varying skin tones at the lunch table, doing art projects, performing a school play, even arguing. After the children bid farewell, a parting page reveals how the teacher--and the classroom pet--might truly enjoy some summer downtime. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 4--A love letter to educators, this is written from the perspective of a diverse group of students singing a goodbye song to their teacher on the last day of school. Each page shows students reminiscing about the ways their teacher has supported them over the school year, from suggesting a new favorite book to breaking up classroom arguments. The students thank their teacher for continuing to support them through the behavioral challenges and chaos that can come with an early elementary classroom. Berry highlights the patience and care that the teacher puts into her relationship with her students through endearing poetry. This book does an excellent job of capturing the bittersweet feelings that come with the last day of school while still keeping the story cheerful. Varon's illustrations are funny and visually engaging for an early elementary audience. This book is great for students who are having a hard time at the end of the school year, and could be a useful tool for talking about change, emotions, and school memories. VERDICT This upbeat story serves as a tribute to the endurance of educators. Great for school and public library collections.--Jillian Girardeau
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
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. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
