Every year during the first full week of May, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. Of course, teachers should be celebrated all year long, but a United States national holiday is a good reminder to show our teachers some extra love and appreciation. I remember my favorite teacher was Ms. Eileen Reid, and I was in the 4th grade. She created a book nook that took up the whole corner of the classroom and whenever we had free time, I would spend it in the book nook. As an adult, I realize that she must have spent her own money to buy books to fill up all those milk crates and to buy comfortable pillows and rugs because my New York City elementary school had no school library and no funding for anything “extra.” Teachers want to support their students any way they can, whether they have to use their own money, their free time and most importantly their positive energy to do so.
Here at the Los Angeles Public Library, we want to support our hard-working teachers and all the great work they do every day. We have a Teachers’ Resources Page where teachers can apply for the Teacher Card. With this special library card, teachers can check out up to 50 items and keep the items for up 4 months to use in their classrooms. Another resource is a handy form for teachers to request their local librarian to visit their schools or to schedule a field trip for their students to visit their local library for a tour, storytime, book talks or research help.
As we celebrate our teachers this week, check out some great children’s books that feature memorable fictional teachers. I think that many children at some point wished that Ms. Frizzle from Joanna Cole’s The Magic School Bus was their teacher. Now Ms. Frizzle’s younger sister, also named Ms. Frizzle is taking over the reins in the new series The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Sink or Swim and The Magic School Bus Rides Again: Monster Power by Judy Katschke. Other memorable fictional teachers featured help their students learn about themselves and about life. Also listed, are humorous stories that show that teachers don’t live at school but have their own lives and feelings outside of the school environment. Lastly, enjoy the stories that are a plain big thank you to our teachers. Todd Parr’s Teachers Rock ends with, “Teachers encourage you to try your best. Most of all, they love to see you succeed.” This is why we appreciate and celebrate our teachers!
Children's Books Featuring Memorable Fictional Teachers
