School Is Wherever I Am

From the "brick building with big doors and rectangle windows" where they attend school most days, a bespectacled child with light brown skin wonders, "Where else is school?" Contemplating various types of learning, the narrator mulls over whether school can be found in visits to the zoo or a museum, on hikes with Mom, Nana's kitchen ("Where I overstuff the potstickers"), or even "when I'm learning things all by myself." Author-illustrator Peterson, a former teacher, handily indicates an affirmative answer to these questions, and many more. Soft-edged digital art exhibits a plethora of learning opportunities--indoors, outdoors, via remote learning, in the bathtub--fueled by the child's curiosity and the experiences they share with their loving family, inspiring readers to see "school," and various types of intelligence, in new ways. Ages 6-8. (May)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--In this quiet, message-driven story, young readers are reminded that learning can happen outside of the classroom. As a young boy considers all the reasons he loves school, he wonders where else learning might take place. Could school be in the visit to the zoo or at the aquarium with his classmates, or in the kitchen making pot stickers with his grandma? Does school have to be in a school building with other students, or could it also be alone at home or on the computer screen? Could school even be in the times when a problem needs to be solved and an apology needs to be made? Following the narrator through his day, young readers will see many ways they can continue learning outside of school. With only one sentence per page, the brightly colored cartoon illustrations do the majority of the storytelling. These generally cheerful scenes help maintain a lighter tone, even while discussing a serious, even provocative topic. Of special importance is the author's inclusion of online learning and at-home learning. Some of the more abstract examples, such as school being "in things I've broken," may require a bit of discussion with children. This book is an solid starting point for a conversation on the importance of learning, curiosity, and actively taking part in the world at all times. VERDICT An excellent purchase for school libraries and public libraries with a big homeschooling community; a title to promote to teachers at the beginning of the school year.--Louie Lauer

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This book is a solid starting point for a conversation on the importance of learning, curiosity, and actively taking part in the world at all times. An excellent purchase for school libraries. —School Library Journal, starred review

Nails the essence of a good education, the attitude of a lifelong learner, and the many places and opportunities in the world where learning can take place. . . .Readers will be making their own lists, perhaps before the last page is turned. —Kirkus Reviews

Thought-provoking, inspiring, and likely to resonate with students adjusting to pandemic life. —Booklist

Inspiring readers to see "school," and various types of intelligence, in new ways. —Publishers Weekly