The Teachers I Loved Best

by Taylor Mali, Erica Root (Illustrator)

Educator and acclaimed poet Taylor Mali honors the magic of teachers and mentors in this joyful, energetic, uplifting gift book.

Easy teachers who gave easy tests are not the teachers I loved the best....

Perfect for teacher appreciation gifts and graduation, here is an inspirational, rhyming picture book ode to the extra-special teachers we remember all those years later.

Children will love seeing themselves and their favorite teachers in scenes bursting with positivity, highlighting not just academics but sports, drama, art, music, and community. And teachers will appreciate seeing their honored profession depicted with love and gratitude.

With gorgeous and whimsical illustrations by Erica Root, here is a book that celebrates the commitment and diversity of the special people who mentor, lead, and inspire our children.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Teachers, Childrens, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2023

About the author

Taylor Mali is a former teacher and classically trained actor who now makes his living as a professional poet. One of the original poets to appear on the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, he is a veteran of the poetry slam and the author of What Learning Leaves and several spoken word CDs and DVDs. He lives and writes in New York City. For more information, visit www.taylormali.com"

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Teachers I Loved Best. Taylor Mali. Illustrated by Erica Root. 2023. [March] 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Easy teachers who gave easy tests
are not the teachers I loved the best.
No, I loved the teachers who made me work hard
in the classroom, the science lab, the theater, and the schoolyard.
Those are the teachers who stand out from all the rest.
Those are the teachers that I loved the best.

Premise/plot: This picture book celebrates teachers. It is written in rhyming verse. It particularly pays tribute to the arts--art teachers, music teachers, theater teachers, etc. The narrator of the poem concludes that the best teachers are the ones who love their students and are loved in return.

My thoughts: I wanted to love, love, love this one. I didn't quite. Not because I don't love and appreciate teachers. (I do). I just thought the rhythm was slightly off throughout this picture book written in verse. Just a personal opinion, I know. At times it felt a little clunky. Still, I appreciate the premise of this one.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this! The first page is awesome: "Easy teachers who gave easy tests are not the teachers I loved the best."

An ode to teachers, particularly those with high expectations. The illustrations are fabulous, this book does a very nice job being inclusive/showing a diverse population of both students and teachers.

In the end, though, the rhyming felt forced and clunky. I'm considering using it at the end of the school year as a read aloud in the library as a way for the students to reflect on the teacher/teachers they had this year.

[Audrey Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Teachers I Loved Best by Taylor Mali is about what teachers do that make them the best. This not only includes teachers helping their students learn, but also making them work hard to reach their goals and cheer for them on the sidelines. I love how this book displays teachers and other important staff at schools; it shows their kindness and willingness to push kids to their full potential. I would love to have this as a read aloud for students to fully understand that teachers, and all faculty at the school, care about you and are there to help you.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a book that celebrates teaching and teachers and Taylor Mali's poetically written picture book is a nod to teachers (and others) who challenge and encourage students. With a focus on those that made us work hard (maybe too much of a focus on that), Mali's text and Root's illustrations present a number of examples of memorable teachers and educators.This might be a nice book for a student to give to a teacher they admire.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept of looking back on who our favorite teachers were and why. Illustrations are nice and show children learning in positive and optimistic ways. Nice tribute to some good teachers past.

Read as a nomination in the 2023 Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

Forced rhymes were hard for me - didn't really read as well as I'd like. Felt a little like a sermon kids might really love hearing.

[SamSamSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhymes were clunky but the sentiment was lovely and important.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect choice for an end-of-the-school-year gift or during Teacher Appreciation Day, this picture book reminds readers that good teachers come in an infinite variety. Some are creative and come up with interesting ways to explore dry topics. Others acknowledge how hard a student tries. Still others lead from the sidelines, not needing to be the star of every scene. But the one thing they all seem to have in common is how they make sure their students know they love and care about them. How refreshing these lines and this acknowledgement that it isn't the easy teachers that are loved best although many folks today might think that's the case. No, it's those teachers who inspire their students, who push them to work hard, who want more for them, and want them to be their best. After all, true education is so much more than memorizing a set of facts or regurgitating the right answers on a test. It's learning to think critically, to make up your mind for yourself, and to stretch so that you can meet those goals you've set for yourself. Perhaps the author's attitude about educators will seem a bit odd to those who prefer the easy route, but it also may reassure some teachers in what ever form they come or whatever role they play in a child's life, that what they do matters more than they may have ever imagined. It also may prompt some reflection and discussion on the part of students, parents, and teachers as to what the purpose of an education actually is. The text and eye-catching artwork honor a diverse cast of teachers, all with piercing eyes, smiles on their faces, and energetic postures, and various scenes that might bring back fond school days memories for older readers. It seems clear that these teachers are in their careers to make a difference in the lives of their students. Some might argue that teaching is a calling, and I would certainly not disagree.

[Matt Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great tribute to teachers and the LOVE they give. My daughter and I really enjoyed it!