“Because You Are My Teacher,” by Sherry North and Marcellus Hall, Abrams, Aug. 1, 2012, Hardcover, $16.95 (ages 4 and up)
If we had a schooner, we would have our class at sea
And study the Atlantic, where the great blue whales roam free.
If we had some camels, we would through desert lands
To see the ancient pyramids rising from the sands.
If we had a chopper, we would soar above the cone
Of a rumbling volcano as it churns out liquid stone.
So begins the story of a devoted teacher who seeks to show her class the wonders of the world. From the Antarctic fields and Amazon rainforest to the Great Wall of China and African savannas, young minds are exposed to the wonders that await on all seven continents.
Written by the author-illustrator team of Sherry North and Marcellus Hall (“Because You Are My Baby” and “Because I Am Your Daddy”) “Because You Are My Teacher is a delightful book that mixes imagination with geography. Parents will be happy to see the dedication of a teacher while children will learn the excitement found in learning. Bright-colored illustrations bring added depth and fun to poetic text.