Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Because You Are My Teacher

Because You Are My Teacher

Sherry North
Illustrator:  Marcellus Hall 
Picture Book
For ages 6 to 8
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2012   ISBN: 978-1419703850

When you have a clever and imaginative teacher, the time you spend in school can be full of adventures. One group of children feels very lucky because their teacher is able to take them to places all over the world, and they never actually leave their classroom.

Because she is their teacher, the children study the Atlantic “where the great blue whales roam free.” On the backs of imaginary camels the students travel across desert sands to visit the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Thanks to their teacher they are able to tour the Amazon travelling on their make-believe river raft. As they float along they hear “the howler monkeys growl their spooky song.”

This delightful picture book serves as a tribute to all those teachers who find unique and engaging ways to explore distant lands with their students. With the teacher and her four pupils, we visit two of the world’s five oceans and all seven of its continents. In some of the places we visit we meet bizarre animals, while in others we marvel at man-made wonders.

With beautiful color illustrations and an engaging rhyming text, this is a perfect picture book to read aloud in a classroom.