Schu's debut picture book salutes the school community and the positive role it plays in kids' lives. . . Jamison's watercolor, acrylic, and digital-collage illustrations employ a sunny palette, well suited to the text's upbeat tone. . . . Schu emphasizes the school as a community, where growth, celebrations, transformations, and work all occur, providing a reassuring introduction to this near-universal experience.
—Booklist (starred review)
Librarian and book advocate Schu invites readers into a school community in which all voices are heard, each person learns, and everyone—and everything, including the plants in the school garden—grows. . . . This introduction to school communities shows children what happens inside a classroom via a vision of school at its best—one that leaves readers with a sense of belonging and inclusion.
—Publishers Weekly
Well suited for both independent reading as well as a read aloud. . . . Full spread illustrations showing the whole community mix with smaller, more intimate portrayals of kids and adults hard at work, providing strong movement throughout the story. This is a solid choice for classrooms and libraries looking for updated beginning of the year or school stories.
—School Library Journal
A soaring panegyric to elementary school as a communal place to learn and grow. . . the central message here is that school is a physical space, not a virtual one, where learning and community happen. . . . A full-hearted valentine.
—Kirkus Reviews
This book is so beautiful! I can see the love, joy, inclusion, and empathy on every single page. What a gift this is for kids, educators, and families.
—Supriya Kelkar, children’s author of Brown is Beautiful
This upbeat, book-length definition of ‘school’ emphasizes big ideas. The spare, syncopated text describes 'school' as a place to grow, learn, create, celebrate, transform and work in community. It’s the cheery art that makes the abstract concrete. . . . Enthusiasm is lightly tempered with honesty. . . . The pandemic is not yet out of sight or mind, but the overall message is clear: School is cool.
—The San Francisco Chronicle
John Schu’s friendly book about how school feels when it’s at its very best is an invitation for young people to learn, grow and enjoy their days in the classroom. . . . Focused on the joys of togetherness, this simple but effective book is a wonderful way to encourage young people to make the most of their new school year.
—The Virginian Pilot
John Schu's story serves as a letter to schools and addresses how its members are still a community, whether they are together in the classroom or not.
—Tiny Beans
