The Teeny Tiny Teacher: A Teeny Tiny Ghost Story

by Denis Roche

An ingenious, humorous adaptation of a folktale follows a tiny teacher to the park, where she finds a tiny bone that brings havoc to her tiny classroom. By the author of The Principal's New Clothes.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Fiction, Halloween, Teachers

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[This Kooky Wildflower Loves a Little Tea and Books]

Cute, almost saccharine and toothache-inducing. This tale describes a teeny tiny teacher and her students' adventure in one day. Be aware of the repetitive phrase, "Teeny Tiny".

[Abigail]

The classic English ghost story - in which a teeny tiny woman finds a teeny tiny bone, and, taking it home, is beset by a mysterious voice demanding its return - is here given a schoolroom setting. In Calmenson's The Teeny Tiny Teacher, the eponymous teacher and her students go for a walk in the park, returning to the classroom with a bone found in the course of their field-trip. Soon, a teeny tiny voice is demanding: "Give me my bone!"

The narrative here is pretty much what you would expect, with "teeny tiny" preceding practically every noun, but young readers who enjoyed the original - or who just like ghost stories - will undoubtedly take to it. Denis Roche's bright gouache illustrations, which reminded me a bit of a Fisher Price toy-set, will keep the attention of younger children. I don't know that that this book is really my "cup of tea," but it is definitely one I would recommend for story-hour in the early (and pre) elementary-school years.

[Jen]

Totally fun to read this aloud to a fourth grader and a first grader. You say the phrase teeny tiny so often you might just start wondering if you're saying it correctly anymore. That's what happened to me. It also helps to have a first grader be the voice from the closet!

[The Book Consultant]

My 6 year old son brought this home as his weekly library check-out book from school last week. It was fun, but was just ok for me. I understand the technique of using repetitiveness in books, but this one was too much for me. Every single thing was “teeny tiny.” I get it, but it was kind of tiring to read. My son seemed to enjoy it, though!

[Philip Schulze]

Not quite as charming as the original (The Teeny-Tiny Woman) because of the fact that she's supposed to be a school teacher! Still has all of the qualities of the original with some extra flair but docked it a star on account of the teacher being irresponsible and setting a bad example for her kids!! ;)

[Haaley]

The repetition in this story is fun (but exhausting).

[Jessica Pinnick]

Lots of repetition still a really nice book with a great story for the beginning of the year

[Tanya]

Great night time read with my 4 year old . She loved the " Give Me My Bone "

[Jocelyn Cervantes]

I loved the bright colors on each page and the silly but fun alliteration!

[Shannon]

The plot of the story is cute, but the text is so annoying. Have you ever said a word or phrase so many times that it starts to lose all meaning? That's what happened with "teeny tiny" while reading this book.

[Jackie Pino]

Everything in this book is teeny tiny. The teacher, students, school, and park are teeny tiny. When the teacher takes the students for a walk to the park, she picks up a teeny tiny bone and puts it in her pocket to keep for a science lesson. When she and the children return to the school, a voice calls out from the closet, “Give me my bone!” The children, and eventually the teacher are frightened. Finally, the teacher stands up to the voice and it is never heard from again. The illustrations show that the voice coming from the closet was a teeny tiny ghost.
While the story itself is not stellar (not much happens until the random ghost is thrown in at the end), the writing offers a plethora of repetition and alliteration for young children to hear as it is read aloud. While looking at the illustrations, children will enjoy picking out the everyday items that take on new uses in this teeny tiny world.

[Laura]

I just read this book and I am not sure how many times I said teeny tiny, but it was enough for me! I am sure that this could be fun for younger children but I do not see me reading this story too often. The ghost at the end could create an interesting Halloween story and spark some creativity in writing, but I am really not a huge fan of this book!

[Cindy Parent]

Great read for Halloween! Wonderful illustrations, with predictable print. Children will love to chant "Give me my Bone!" along with you as you read.
Can be used to teach:
adverbs and adjectives
alliteration
predictions
Can tie a nature walk in with the book, go outside and collect "teeny tiny things", twigs, feathers, etc...create a "teeny tiny" book

[Danielle Simmons]

Such a funny book. Teeny tiny is used every second! This would be fun to read with kids and let them read what the ghost says because every page it gets a teeny tiny bit louder!

[Sarah]

A take off on the folk tale "Teeny Tiny Woman" (Paul Galdone has a good one).
This is a version set in a school, so it's a teeny tiny teacher. It's cute.

[Rob]

A teeny tiny bit good, mostly a teeny tiny bit clever.

[Angelina]

My preschool students loved this book! Definitely an interactive book. I plan on making a flannel board story about it! ☺️

[Margaret]

I thought it was funny how many times they use the words "teeny tiny."

[Brooke]

This was an easy read but not as enjoyable for me. Kids would love this book.

[Bridget]

Cute book! My kids all love how many times they say teeny tiny in this book. It is A LOT!

[Bryanna Gall]

The Teeny Tiny Teacher is about kindergarten classroom who goes on a field trip. This book is good for younger classrooms because it teaches them not to take things that do not belong to them.