I Love My Teacher! (Step Into Reading: Step 1 Ready to Read)

PreS-Gr 1--Following in the perky footsteps of earlier entries in the series (I Love Pink, I Love Cake, I Love My Tutu, and I Love My Grandma), Gilbert adds another celebratory ode to the life of her joyous character. The first-person narrator of this story, who is white, brings effusive excitement to every stage of her school day--from home departure to class dismissal, this girl is thrilled by every experience, and her happiness will become infectious with big and little readers alike. Unten's illustrations, reminiscent of the cheerful advertising layouts of the 1950s and 1960s, perfectly complement Gilbert's bubbly prose and show the protagonist approaching reading, writing, painting, counting, and telling time with curiosity and optimism. The character's path as a lifelong learner comes full circle when we see her applying what she has been taught and modeling herself as a teacher at home with her all-too-eager pets. In a heartwarming display, the character demonstrates that not only is school a wonderful place to be, but that a teacher is a wonderful person to aspire to be, as well. VERDICT Expertly laid out with single-sentence phrases perfectly matched for its audience of early readers, this entry in the series is a lovely addition to the fold that will have kids buzzing with excitement and joy at all the wonders they find at school.--Jose Cruz