Teacher, Teacher: An anthology about inspirational educators

by Andrea Rowe

An anthology about the power of teachers and their capacity to shape lives, edited by award-winning teacher-librarian Megan Daley of Children's Book Daily and the Your Kid's Next Read podcast. Featuring contributions from Jessie Tu, Tony Birch, Rick Morton, Jacqueline Harvey, Andrea Rowe + many more.

The power of an exceptional teacher cannot be overestimated. Sometimes it is not about what they taught you, but about how they made you feel as a person. Teacher, Teacher is an anthology of stories showcasing those brilliant educators who have nurtured, inspired, championed or created change - in one student or in a community.

Edited by award-winning teacher-librarian Megan Daley of Children's Books Daily and the Your Kid's Next Read podcast, these are authentic accounts focusing on both the light and more sombre educational journeys of thirty key contributors.

Defying the usual stereotypes, Teacher, Teacher provides insight into what makes an exceptional teacher and is a celebration of great educators everywhere

Paperback

Published July 25, 2023

About the author

My best-selling children’s book JETTY JUMPING (Little Hare / Hardie Grant Egmont, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville) won the 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood and the 2023 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year.

It is available internationally, and translated into Danish.

SUNDAY SKATING is available in Australia & USA & Europe.

CASTLE CRASHING is the latest picture book in the series, released in 2026 (illustrated by Hannah Sommerville). It has been awarded a 2026 Notable for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year - Early Childhood.

IN THE ROCKPOOLS is the first in our Little Worlds nature series. (all with Hardie Grant, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville). It has been awarded a 2024 Notable Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood and was the 2024 face of Australian picture books at the Bologna Children's Book fair.

Its follow-up AMID THE SAND DUNES was awarded the 2025 Notable Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year – Early Childhood.

In 2026 ON A BUSHWALK is out, the final book in this early reading series.

In 2026 AUDREY SKIPS (Midnight Sun Publishing, illustrated by Lisa Coutts) has also hit the bookshelves.

And my first non-fiction picture book DOGS WITH JOBS (illustrated by Julia Murray) was released in 2025 in Australia an 7 July in USA.

I write books for children, and stories for grown-ups too. I combine my nostalgic celebration of culture and the environment in our everyday lives with the questions and reflections that draw us together. My writing absorbs the themes and issues encouraging collective discussions and conversations. I believe in the power of stories and reading out loud and in secret.

Several of my short stories, magazine features and micro fictions have been published and longlisted in literary magazines and Australian awards. I'm the winner of the 2020 Hal Porter Short Story Award, Highly Commended for the 2022 Newcastle Short Story Award and 2nd place in the Mulga Bill Writing Award.

I am also Australia's first public library ambassador for 2025/2026.

Reviews

[Manaswini · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s very inspiring and shows the amount of background work that goes into planning lessons for students and the extra hours teachers need to put in to make sure students receive a good education. Good read overall.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking to be inspired by teacher stories yet not what I got. Some stories I could connect with and others just didn't hit that spot. I think it was the fact that these stories weren't from teachers but from people who were inspired by their teachers. As a teacher in my 5th year of teaching, I was left unmotivated for the teaching year. 

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a teacher, I wanted to love it and I wanted to feel inspired by what others have done. But I walked away feeling empty. It was a book that I wasn’t enthusiastic to read each night and was a bit meh.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Some of the stories had nothing to do with inspirational educators (never mentioned them), some didn't spend enough time on their educations whilst others did/