We wouldn’t be where we are today without the teachers we grew up with. Teachers bring valuable insight for our development, imparting lessons on everything from the fundamentals of mathematics to how to read and spell to the price of coins. They are some of the hardest workers in our communities; at any age, teachers can provide us with new skills we have never heard of before and help us see the world in new ways. For this week’s Three to Read Jr., we’ve gathered three books that celebrate our teachers to express our never-ending appreciation! Ranging from early readers to elementary readers to middle grade readers, these books will make the perfect reads for your child.
EARLY READERS
Llama Llama Loves His Teacher by Anna Dewdney, Illustrated by JT Morrow
SYNOPSIS:
Part of the beloved, worldwide series Llama Llama, this edition follows the llama going to school and sharing all the things he learns there. But most importantly, Llama Llama tells us all the wonderful things he loves about his dear teacher! He loves being at school and how much the teacher does to make the class feel safe and welcome.
WHY:
This is the perfect children’s book to read in a classroom or at home to teach young readers the value teachers bring and how much work they put in to make sure everything goes smoothly! Through Llama Llama’s joyful experiences at school and how he thinks about his teacher, children are reminded to respect their educators. This heartwarming story celebrates the dedication teachers embody and encourages gratitude from us all!
ELEMENTARY READERS
Thank you, Teacher! by Supriya Kelkar
SYNOPSIS:
We have a variety of teachers, from homeroom classrooms to gym coaches to music teachers; there are teachers everywhere who shape our lives and provide the support we need. From weekday challenges and triumphs to school-trip disasters, there is no problem a teacher cannot solve, and they will do it all for the sake of their students’ well-being. This picture book thanks all teachers for everything they do for us!
WHY:
This story reminds us of the variety of teachers in our world, not just from inside the classroom; there are teachers of all kinds who provide support, kindness, and guidance through our everyday lives. This book reminds children of teachers’ work, even behind the scenes, and is an incredibly touching story to foster appreciation for our teachers!
MIDDLE GRADE READERS
Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn
SYNOPSIS:
What happens when human teachers are replaced by robots? Releasing in July 2025, this hilarious and ominous new graphic novel follows James Gordon, who is already annoyed by all the robots in his life. The drones that look like bugs, the dogbots in the park, and his HomeBot babysitter — it’s all overwhelming for him. Now, he’s just found out that Schoolbots will be replacing his favorite middle school teachers! His teachers have always cared about his feelings and supported his artwork, but the new artificial intelligence bots would erase their connections, as all they care about is improving students’ test scores. Determined to fight back, James is going to need some help from a very unexpected ally.
WHY:
This wonderful graphic novel truly shows that teachers are not just there to improve our grades but also for emotional support; they bring us true happiness by making us feel seen and heard. Hepburn’s story teaches children the importance of teachers and how they can never be replaced by machines or computers. With AI on the rise, this may be a great book to introduce the value of human connection in the learning space to your middle schooler!
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read Jr.! We hope you’ll join us in future installments to see more of our recommendations for young bookworms.
To read our other Three to Read articles, click here!
Browse these books and more reads handpicked by the Bookstr team on our Three to Read bookshelf on Bookshop!
