Overview

First-day-of-school fears are eased when a child discovers his new teacher is warm and approachable—and looks like him—in a tender picture-book debut. Olu is nervous about going to school for the first time—his legs are shaking and his tummy feels wobbly. He knows his friends will be there, but he doesn’t know what the teacher will be like. What do teachers look like? Where do they live? What do they eat? What if his teacher breathes fire, like a dragon? Ohhhhh . . . MACARONI! Luckily for Olu, his parents talk to him about teachers, assuring him they’re just people who help you learn about the world. But as Olu walks with his mom to school, he is still anxious. What will his teacher be like? Early childhood educator Jamel C. Campbell addresses a common fear that children all over the world experience at the start of a new school year in a sweet, reassuring story paired with the gentle, welcoming illustrations of Lydia Mba. An author’s note addressed to grown-ups explains that meeting children’s needs in times of transition helps to build confidence, resilience, and openness to future exploration.

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9781536231465

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Reviews

Told in a realistic, appealingly childlike voice, this loving book emphasizes how important it is for children of color to have educators in whom they can see themselves. Mba’s bright, homey illustrations set the perfect tone to welcome youngsters to the classroom. . . . Both an encouraging first-day-of-school read and a tribute to the power of representation. —Kirkus Reviews Engaging digital illustrations capture activities including circle time as Olu becomes accustomed to the classroom’s rhythm. . . . Interspersed with moments of overcoming anxiety, it’s a heartwarming ode to teachers and the significance of representation. —Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Jamel C. Campbell is a teacher, consultant, and author who has worked in early childhood education for more than twenty years. Olu’s Teacher is his picture-book debut. He lives in London. Lydia Mba is an illustrator and storyteller who loves working with colors and textures to create art that celebrates diversity. She is the illustrator of Dear Black Child by Rahma Rodaah. Lydia Mba lives in Spain.

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