You Are My Wonders

PreS-K—Love and Ichikawa explore the relationship between a teacher and her students. A bevy of stuffed-animal children runs into school and is greeted with: "I am your teacher;/you are my school child./I am your welcome;/you are my running wild." The often sentimental, occasionally silly rhyming text conveys that wisdom is imparted from teacher to student-"I am your story;/you are my wide eyes./I am your lesson;/you are my surprise"-accompanied by great affection and youthful exuberance. Some couplets are more successful than others, and many suggest an adult sensibility that may be lost on young children. The charming watercolor illustrations with their ample use of white space and rich palette have plenty of child appeal. The text might spark discussion between adult readers and child listeners and there is certainly much to pore over and enjoy in the illustrations.—Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI