A Letter to My Teacher - by Deborah Hopkinson

About the Book

A letter from someone who was once an exasperating second-grader reveals her experiences with a teacher who brought out the best in her.

Book Synopsis

This funny, touching picture book celebrates the difference a good teacher can make. Written as a thank-you note to a special teacher from the student who never forgot her, this moving story makes a great classroom read-aloud, and a perfect back-to-school gift for students and teachers!

Dear Teacher, Whenever I had something to tell you, I tugged on your shirt and whispered in your ear. This time I'm writing a letter.

So begins this heartfelt picture book about a girl who prefers running and jumping to listening and learning--and the teacher who gently inspires her. From stomping through creeks on a field trip to pretending to choke when called upon to read aloud, this book's young heroine would be a challenge to any teacher. But this teacher isn't just any teacher. By listening carefully and knowing just the right thing to say, she quickly learns that the girl's unruly behavior is due to her struggles with reading. And at the very end, we learn what this former student is now: a teacher herself.

From award winning author Deborah Hopkinson and acclaimed illustrator Nancy Carpenter, this picture book is made to be treasured by both those who teach and those who learn.

Review Quotes

"A valuable lesson in empathy, internalized and paid forward." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Hopkinson's moving epistolary text and Carpenter's emotionally incisive flashbacks chronicle the evolving relationship between an impulsive second grader and her life-changing teacher." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

About the Author

Deborah Hopkinson is the author of many highly acclaimed picture books, including Beatrix Potter and the Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig; Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book; and Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book. She lives in Oregon with her family. Visit her at deborahhopkinson.com.

Nancy Carpenter illustrated 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore, called "picture-perfect" in a starred review from School Library Journal, and 11 Experiments That Failed, both by Jenny Offill. She has collaborated with Deborah Hopkinson on two previous books, including Apples to Oregon, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.