This anthology of poetry introduces all the people who work with students. The bus driver is known by a "good-morning smile" and can be depended on to "bring me home again." The crossing guard is seen as a mother bird who "guides us like hatchlings safely to the other side." Readers may be surprised that the principal is also a mother, but J. Patrick Lewis shares other things that principals do such as "find the milk snake that escaped from the Science Room."
The illustrations help to bring the imagery to life. There are wings behind the teacher whose "stories lift me high," and there are also yellow birds swooping around her. The page across from the poem about the art teacher shows a painted scene that holds an origami bird, a clay dinosaur, and other hints of creativity. Of course, my favorite is the spread featuring the librarian. While he talks to one student, another child looks about with an expression of wonder and the pages from an open book flutter up to the ceiling, which has disappeared and is now a sky filled with dragons. Hooray for imagination!
Lee Bennett Hopkins has many anthologies on various topics and fans will be rewarded for their loyalty when they check out this newest one. Ellen Shi's illustrations catch all that is best about school personnel and the students they work with each day. It is a winning combination.
Perfect for back to school reading or adding to poetry sections in libraries and classrooms. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review purposes.
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