A Teacher's Promise - Kovakantinen

The illustrations are so whimsical and warm that I found myself flipping through twice before even reading the words aloud. The verses capture exactly what it feels like to nurture little learners, and the hardcover binding feels sturdy enough for years of bedtime story circles.

This is the book I'll give every new teacher from now on. The fanciful illustrations perfectly capture the joy and weight of the job, and the verses ring true for anyone who's spent a year with little ones. My own copy already has a tear stain on the page about growing.

The affirming verses made me tear up on page three—they capture exactly why I teach. My four-year-old asks me to read it every night, and the message about how teachers shape how children feel is spot on.