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maxcfb's review
4.0
I feel like most of us know John Schu for being a super-popular book blogger (as in, so popular he interviews other authors all the time). However, we can now expand our understanding of him, because with this book, he is now a published author! And as an educator (as so many of my fellow book bloggers are!), he has written this lovely depiction of a flourishing school community.
Repetition-filled prose and vibrant, multicolored illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison give us a look at the diverse lives of several young students as they learn, become friends, make mistakes, overcome challenges, and care for one another. The illustrations are detailed and bring the world of the story to life, filling in the plot as the words give the story both rhythm and theme.
I’m feeling a bit short on thoughts because there’s not a hugely explicit plot to expound upon here, but I just want to emphasize both that this story is a wonderful reminder to young readers that the communities they spend much of their lives in have meaning and purpose, and also that this story is a wonderful reminder to educators and other adults that they really do shape the lives of their students by creating a meaningful community that gives students the space to learn!
What’s my verdict? A breezy, delightful story about a school and the students and educators that make it up!
– Click here to see the full review on my blog!
Repetition-filled prose and vibrant, multicolored illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison give us a look at the diverse lives of several young students as they learn, become friends, make mistakes, overcome challenges, and care for one another. The illustrations are detailed and bring the world of the story to life, filling in the plot as the words give the story both rhythm and theme.
I’m feeling a bit short on thoughts because there’s not a hugely explicit plot to expound upon here, but I just want to emphasize both that this story is a wonderful reminder to young readers that the communities they spend much of their lives in have meaning and purpose, and also that this story is a wonderful reminder to educators and other adults that they really do shape the lives of their students by creating a meaningful community that gives students the space to learn!
What’s my verdict? A breezy, delightful story about a school and the students and educators that make it up!
– Click here to see the full review on my blog!
library_kb's review
inspiring
fast-paced
3.25
This is a simple, but meaningful beginning of the year book for classrooms and schools. It reminds/introduces students to what being in a community of school can be and what it should look like. The illustrations are beautifully done and showcase the diversity present in our schools.
pib003's review
2.0
I thought this book was going in a cool direction conceptually from reading the first couple pages, but then it became one of those vague books that's supposed to be inspiriting that I've read a billion of and can't remember a single one.
alisa4books's review
4.0
Intermediate text with ideas ranging from simple to complex. No overarching story here, just statements about what goes on at a school and in the larger community. Beautiful illustrations showing diverse range of children and adults including a child in a wheelchair
readingthroughtheages's review
5.0
A timeless story that will be read aloud to children many years from now. Mr. Schu captures how special a school community is!
heisereads's review
4.0
An ode to all of the people who make up a lively and caring school community paired with joyful illustrations. This Is a School will become an instant classic for beginning of the school year read alouds.
Pair with School's First Day of School, The Day You Begin, & All Are Welcome.
Pair with School's First Day of School, The Day You Begin, & All Are Welcome.
backonthealex's review
4.0
I never thought about school as a community when I was a student. Consequently, I never really felt that I was part of a community bigger than myself. However, as a teacher, I realized just what a large, important community school really is. And I think it is important for kids to understand that and that they, too, are a vital part of it. And that is just what this book tells young readers. Using the simplest of sentences, it begins with a kid. Each following page places the kid in different school situations - the school building, the class, the hall and describes what happens in each place. But school isn't just those things, it's also a diverse growing community where kids can find support, can learn, play, work, succeed and even make mistakes at times. This is an ideal book for children just getting ready to go to school, but also a good reminder for current students that they in a thriving community with many supportive adult helpers. The illustrations, done in watercolor, acrylic paint, and digital collage, are colorful and reinforce the message of the text. I am really looking forward to sharing this book with my young readers who will all be starting school next fall.