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Learning
A sincere, funny, and insightful novella from poet and filmmaker Courtney Bush.
Learning is a woman’s account of a single Monday working in a progressive New York City day care. The narrator, Courtney, spends her days in The Blue Room guiding her three-year-old students through the early lessons of their lives. Her consciousness flickers between the children—full of generosity, wonder, accidental brilliance, and infinite questions—and her life outside the classroom. While tying shoes and peeling clementines, Courtney returns to grief over the death of a hometown friend; her recent divorce; the hope of a new relationship; her family back in Mississippi; and thoughts on forgiveness, empathy, and her own capacity for cruelty. As the day goes on, a threat from the school director’s ex-boyfriend introduces real danger, tilting the fragile order of the classroom toward chaos.
Deeply felt and bracingly honest, Learning enacts the complexity of consciousness, itself a balance of presence, memory, risk-calculation, observation, imagination, and emergency.
Learning is a woman’s account of a single Monday working in a progressive New York City day care. The narrator, Courtney, spends her days in The Blue Room guiding her three-year-old students through the early lessons of their lives. Her consciousness flickers between the children—full of generosity, wonder, accidental brilliance, and infinite questions—and her life outside the classroom. While tying shoes and peeling clementines, Courtney returns to grief over the death of a hometown friend; her recent divorce; the hope of a new relationship; her family back in Mississippi; and thoughts on forgiveness, empathy, and her own capacity for cruelty. As the day goes on, a threat from the school director’s ex-boyfriend introduces real danger, tilting the fragile order of the classroom toward chaos.
Deeply felt and bracingly honest, Learning enacts the complexity of consciousness, itself a balance of presence, memory, risk-calculation, observation, imagination, and emergency.
150 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 7, 2026
Every once in a while you read a book that makes you feel more whole, even just a little. This was one of those books for me.
We follow Courtney through one day at the daycare in New York City, weaving in and out of her thoughts. The kids at the daycare, her divorce, her best friend who passed, a new guy she is seeing... It's a lot to juggle in one day, and Bush never drops the ball.
What I loved most was how much attention Courtney (and her coworker Whitney) pay to the children. The small things they notice before the day even starts and the private shorthand they've built for the kids' personalities and moods was some of the most tender writing I've come across.
Poets don't always translate well into fiction, but Bush pulls it off here, spectacularly and a little peculiarly. I don't know how she captures a stream of consciousness we all experience but never quite see written down like this. It reminded me a little of The Red Tenda of Bologna by John Berger, another book where the whole point is just being inside of someone's wandering, associative mind. Bush's Learning is funnier and messier, but both are held together by that same wandering attention.
This tender and unusual novella is one I'd recommend to anyone.
Thank you to Joyland Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
We follow Courtney through one day at the daycare in New York City, weaving in and out of her thoughts. The kids at the daycare, her divorce, her best friend who passed, a new guy she is seeing... It's a lot to juggle in one day, and Bush never drops the ball.
What I loved most was how much attention Courtney (and her coworker Whitney) pay to the children. The small things they notice before the day even starts and the private shorthand they've built for the kids' personalities and moods was some of the most tender writing I've come across.
Poets don't always translate well into fiction, but Bush pulls it off here, spectacularly and a little peculiarly. I don't know how she captures a stream of consciousness we all experience but never quite see written down like this. It reminded me a little of The Red Tenda of Bologna by John Berger, another book where the whole point is just being inside of someone's wandering, associative mind. Bush's Learning is funnier and messier, but both are held together by that same wandering attention.
This tender and unusual novella is one I'd recommend to anyone.
Thank you to Joyland Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.
July 7, 2026
I knew the moment I read the dedication I would love this book. I was right.
What a love letter to the chaos, overstimulation, love, learning, and depth required to be a childcare worker or teacher. I feel so seen in this; I loved it.
What a love letter to the chaos, overstimulation, love, learning, and depth required to be a childcare worker or teacher. I feel so seen in this; I loved it.
July 2, 2026
I sometimes wonder about how teachers are changed by the hours they spend with their students, and what childhood in general has to teach adults. I had high hopes for this book from the perspective of a childcare worker in New York!
Unfortunately I did not find its insights particularly original: Children have strong desires; children are learning about the boundaries between themselves and others; children are more complex than adults give them credit for, etc. I think the problem is that this book reads sometimes as self-help and at other times like dry field notes. The narration of the children’s interactions are monotonous, and the writing is filled with awkward phrases like “a culture rooted in custom and tradition” (Isn’t that what culture is??) and metaphors I didn’t find necessary (e.g. “ Some things were not renewable, parts of yourself could not grow back. We are not starfish”).
And while the book is set up with various threads—from a friend‘s death to a burgeoning relationship—some of these threads are lost halfway through. Others fail to be wrapped up. I found this odd considering how neat and formulaic the book otherwise is, literally building towards the appearance of a cartoonish villain by the ridiculous name of “Mike Rott.” Speaking of Rott, the book never fully condemns the director Elena's mismanagement of the center and the staff members' willingness to comply with her at the expense of the children.
Has its life-affirming moments but overall I can’t understand this book's Goodreads rating.
Unfortunately I did not find its insights particularly original: Children have strong desires; children are learning about the boundaries between themselves and others; children are more complex than adults give them credit for, etc. I think the problem is that this book reads sometimes as self-help and at other times like dry field notes. The narration of the children’s interactions are monotonous, and the writing is filled with awkward phrases like “a culture rooted in custom and tradition” (Isn’t that what culture is??) and metaphors I didn’t find necessary (e.g. “ Some things were not renewable, parts of yourself could not grow back. We are not starfish”).
And while the book is set up with various threads—from a friend‘s death to a burgeoning relationship—some of these threads are lost halfway through. Others fail to be wrapped up. I found this odd considering how neat and formulaic the book otherwise is, literally building towards the appearance of a cartoonish villain by the ridiculous name of “Mike Rott.” Speaking of Rott, the book never fully condemns the director Elena's mismanagement of the center and the staff members' willingness to comply with her at the expense of the children.
Has its life-affirming moments but overall I can’t understand this book's Goodreads rating.
June 27, 2026
O to be an early childhood educator who is also a writer in NYC! Full of beauty in a way that helped me remember the beauty of my life!
Review of advance copy
Insightful, funny, relevant. There’s a lot to learn here, and she’s very subtle and original about it.
July 11, 2026
At first, I found myself relating to Courtney. I’m the same age and although I don’t work with 3-4 year olds, I’m a high school teacher so I thought this would be a great read. And at first it was!
But then the author spent time and pages summarizing Moana. And I was like why is she spending so much time on Moana? It’s a good movie but not to the point that she describes it in detail.
And when the school director’s boyfriend arrives, Elena was completely unprofessional. The teachers unfortunately handled the situation incorrectly and it made me wonder how the author works in childcare and wrote herself (I think) as not taking the right steps and precautions. If this is somehow based on a true story I really hope that daycare shut down due to it being super unprofessional. Like how can you not call the police and listen to Elena when she says not to? I’d be calling the police ASAP and notifying the daycare immediately.
But then the author spent time and pages summarizing Moana. And I was like why is she spending so much time on Moana? It’s a good movie but not to the point that she describes it in detail.
And when the school director’s boyfriend arrives, Elena was completely unprofessional. The teachers unfortunately handled the situation incorrectly and it made me wonder how the author works in childcare and wrote herself (I think) as not taking the right steps and precautions. If this is somehow based on a true story I really hope that daycare shut down due to it being super unprofessional. Like how can you not call the police and listen to Elena when she says not to? I’d be calling the police ASAP and notifying the daycare immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2026
Very charming. Learning follows a mid-30s teacher at a preschool through a day taking care of 4-year-olds as she reflects on her job and life. The children are central characters and it’s a detailed and funny slice of life about being a childcare professional. Almost of all of the teachers have advanced degrees and the novella veers from being a window into a unique profession that is the backbone of modern society into a bit of a standard Bildungsroman about an educated woman in NYC at times. But the adult characters a quirky and sound so it still works as that too.
Bush also uses the narrative to make several more philosophical points about how working with children can transform how someone observes and communicates. Any parent would agree with this in general, but Bush makes some precise points about how it requires observing without assuming and and how adults would benefit from being less scared and more curious—“Being with children is a process of letting things end and leaving them behind. We cannot bring up what has just occurred, those difficult moments, the aggressions. Once you’ve found peace you must never return. … You stay with the child and let them know you’re there too. And me and you, how can we get out of this mess? How can we feel better? This is one thing to learn from the child. You move forward only. You move forward into feeling, into the bad place, you move forward so that you can move through and emerge back into the day. You release, so that you can access more life …”
Bush also uses the narrative to make several more philosophical points about how working with children can transform how someone observes and communicates. Any parent would agree with this in general, but Bush makes some precise points about how it requires observing without assuming and and how adults would benefit from being less scared and more curious—“Being with children is a process of letting things end and leaving them behind. We cannot bring up what has just occurred, those difficult moments, the aggressions. Once you’ve found peace you must never return. … You stay with the child and let them know you’re there too. And me and you, how can we get out of this mess? How can we feel better? This is one thing to learn from the child. You move forward only. You move forward into feeling, into the bad place, you move forward so that you can move through and emerge back into the day. You release, so that you can access more life …”
June 27, 2026
easily the best book i’ve ever read. captures the weirdness and wonder and wisdom of children and the teetering edge of crying/singing that is being amongst them and in this world. my new bible
July 14, 2026
As a teacher I went into this book with high expectations. I wanted to love it, but sadly it just wasn’t engaging. Also, the lack of quotation marks took a while to get used to and I had reread several times to understand who was speaking. I know this is trendy right now, but it’s not a trend I can get behind.
July 16, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. It perfectly captures the stream-of-consciousness mind of a teacher while also capturing you in the story. There were moments I laughed out loud and moments that were profound.
July 12, 2026
An insane and immersive day told by the author. Holy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read "Learning" based on other readers' reviews, and I'm so glad I did. Its slenderness belies its power: I was genuinely transformed by this book, by the way the author finds transcendence in the seemingly mundane, by the portrayal of the complexity and simplicity of being with small children. And the simmering tension in the background of the story--ahh, so good! The ever-lurking danger hums like a taut wire charged with electricity. It reminded me of Ben Lerner's work but exceptionally better, in my view, partly because it's about women, when so many books in this style are not, and it articulates things about being a woman that are honest and difficult and shameful and true. Above all "Learning" brings dignity to experiences that are so often dismissed as undignified or uninteresting.
Yes: I am a mother of an almost-four-year old who attends a daycare that partly resembles the one depicted. Yes: I am also a writer, not a poet but someone who makes sense of the world through prose. Yes: I also wept at the ending of Moana and know all the Frog and Toad stories by heart. I am perhaps an ideal reader for this book. But I suspect that other readers for whom these things are not true will find other resonances here. Highly recommend; I'll be buying copies for friends.
It's also my first Joyland Editions book, and I'm very glad to have this publisher on my radar; I'll be keeping a keen eye out for their other books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
Yes: I am a mother of an almost-four-year old who attends a daycare that partly resembles the one depicted. Yes: I am also a writer, not a poet but someone who makes sense of the world through prose. Yes: I also wept at the ending of Moana and know all the Frog and Toad stories by heart. I am perhaps an ideal reader for this book. But I suspect that other readers for whom these things are not true will find other resonances here. Highly recommend; I'll be buying copies for friends.
It's also my first Joyland Editions book, and I'm very glad to have this publisher on my radar; I'll be keeping a keen eye out for their other books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read this novella in one day. From the beginning, I was glued to the main character and her stream of consciousness. I was captivated by the philosophical reflections, beautiful prose, and witty humour. This was a book I wished I had in physical form so I could highlight the crap out of it.
It follows the mostly mundane Monday of a childcare worker in New York, tracing her thoughts as she reflects on grief, love, hope, and introspection, all while remaining present for the children.
I loved her refreshing portrayal of children in all their uniqueness, beauty, and innocence. As a mother of three, I am astounded by how accurately she captured the way three-year-olds’ minds work. In fact, all of her characters were interesting and realistic. She not only understands children with incredible depth, but also the act of being human as a whole, with all our flaws, differences, and best intentions.
I found the experience of grief relatable, with waves of varying intensity passing through her thoughts throughout the day. Thoughts tinged with guilt, sadness, confusion, and questions.
This novella is pure literary fiction, so if you don’t like the genre, you’re unlikely to enjoy this book, with its lack of chapters and strong character focus. I love literary fiction, though, and I loved Learning. I also think it helps to have an interest in children to fully appreciate it, as they are a central focus of the story.
It follows the mostly mundane Monday of a childcare worker in New York, tracing her thoughts as she reflects on grief, love, hope, and introspection, all while remaining present for the children.
I loved her refreshing portrayal of children in all their uniqueness, beauty, and innocence. As a mother of three, I am astounded by how accurately she captured the way three-year-olds’ minds work. In fact, all of her characters were interesting and realistic. She not only understands children with incredible depth, but also the act of being human as a whole, with all our flaws, differences, and best intentions.
I found the experience of grief relatable, with waves of varying intensity passing through her thoughts throughout the day. Thoughts tinged with guilt, sadness, confusion, and questions.
This novella is pure literary fiction, so if you don’t like the genre, you’re unlikely to enjoy this book, with its lack of chapters and strong character focus. I love literary fiction, though, and I loved Learning. I also think it helps to have an interest in children to fully appreciate it, as they are a central focus of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5
Learning follows Courtney through her day working at a daycare center in New York, struggling quietly with a recent divorce, the death of a childhood friend, and the difficulties of a new relationship while never compromising her relationship with the children she oversees.
The novel is profoundly sensitive, thoughtful, and moving despite its thin page count. Most impressive is the way that each of her coworkers and the children feel fleshed out and unique individuals--even as they fell in and out of focus I never forgot who was who or what characteristics made up their personalities. I've never read a novel that treats its child characters with so much grace and respect, and its clear that Bush was careful to construct them honestly and with compassion.
While full of philosophical wonderings, sort of floating between thoughts in an unmoored semi- stream of consciousness manner, the book remains surprisingly warm and grounded.
Beautiful, and absolutely worth reading.
Learning follows Courtney through her day working at a daycare center in New York, struggling quietly with a recent divorce, the death of a childhood friend, and the difficulties of a new relationship while never compromising her relationship with the children she oversees.
The novel is profoundly sensitive, thoughtful, and moving despite its thin page count. Most impressive is the way that each of her coworkers and the children feel fleshed out and unique individuals--even as they fell in and out of focus I never forgot who was who or what characteristics made up their personalities. I've never read a novel that treats its child characters with so much grace and respect, and its clear that Bush was careful to construct them honestly and with compassion.
While full of philosophical wonderings, sort of floating between thoughts in an unmoored semi- stream of consciousness manner, the book remains surprisingly warm and grounded.
Beautiful, and absolutely worth reading.
July 10, 2026
I can see where this story was going. I appreciated a look into how teachers can see themselves, their past, and learn from the students they teach, and how being a teacher and mentor for children is a strong calling that impacts all aspects of life.
But I did find that the book often didn't know where it was going. Storylines were often dropped or not fully resolved with the necessary details, leading to dead ends that, if resolved, would have helped create a full story where we could see any type of character growth. But instead, because many of those lessons weren't fully learned and the plotlines weren't finished, the book read as if nothing had been gained and no characters had been developed.
It was a good theme; again, the idea of teachers being able to learn from their students, like students learn from them, is a good story and lesson in life, but the execution wasn't there for me, and I felt the book lagged in many areas because of it.
But I did find that the book often didn't know where it was going. Storylines were often dropped or not fully resolved with the necessary details, leading to dead ends that, if resolved, would have helped create a full story where we could see any type of character growth. But instead, because many of those lessons weren't fully learned and the plotlines weren't finished, the book read as if nothing had been gained and no characters had been developed.
It was a good theme; again, the idea of teachers being able to learn from their students, like students learn from them, is a good story and lesson in life, but the execution wasn't there for me, and I felt the book lagged in many areas because of it.
July 13, 2026
Sammy, the little boy who is into everything all at once and can never sit still. Anne-Louise, the petite blonde who has to have everything just so and cries if her best friend leaves to play somewhere else. Quinn, the mischief maker who hides from the teachers and says “mert” over and over and over again for seemingly no reason other than it annoys the living daylights out of everybody.
As a fellow preschool teacher (named Courtney, no less) I recognized many of the children in this book. I have taught them, and I love the insights the author drew from a single school day in a New York City daycare. Children are an endless source of happiness, frustration, laughter, and worry, and they have so much to teach us. The more “adult-focused” parts of this novella were not as enjoyable (it could have done with A LOT fewer f-bombs), but I did enjoy the author’s forays into the mind of a child.
As a fellow preschool teacher (named Courtney, no less) I recognized many of the children in this book. I have taught them, and I love the insights the author drew from a single school day in a New York City daycare. Children are an endless source of happiness, frustration, laughter, and worry, and they have so much to teach us. The more “adult-focused” parts of this novella were not as enjoyable (it could have done with A LOT fewer f-bombs), but I did enjoy the author’s forays into the mind of a child.
July 13, 2026
2.5⭐️⭐️✨
Learning had a lot that I admired, even if it didn’t fully work for me. Courtney Bush is clearly a talented writer, and I loved the way she captured what it’s actually like to be a teacher. The observations about the kids were easily the best part of the book—she notices all the little quirks, personalities, and ways children see the world with so much care and empathy. It made me appreciate teachers even more.
That said, it never quite came together as a novel for me. It often felt more like reading a thoughtful personal essay than a story, and I found myself waiting for something to happen. The writing is beautiful, but the pacing dragged enough that my attention wandered.
I’m glad I read it, and I think readers who love literary, introspective fiction will probably connect with it more than I did. Even though it wasn’t a favorite, Bush’s writing talent is undeniable, and her understanding of children is something really special.
Learning had a lot that I admired, even if it didn’t fully work for me. Courtney Bush is clearly a talented writer, and I loved the way she captured what it’s actually like to be a teacher. The observations about the kids were easily the best part of the book—she notices all the little quirks, personalities, and ways children see the world with so much care and empathy. It made me appreciate teachers even more.
That said, it never quite came together as a novel for me. It often felt more like reading a thoughtful personal essay than a story, and I found myself waiting for something to happen. The writing is beautiful, but the pacing dragged enough that my attention wandered.
I’m glad I read it, and I think readers who love literary, introspective fiction will probably connect with it more than I did. Even though it wasn’t a favorite, Bush’s writing talent is undeniable, and her understanding of children is something really special.
July 14, 2026
As someone in the ECE field...wow. Relatable, scarily so.
This was a breath of fresh air, even when it got a little dark. The raw honesty behind Courtney's narration, all the mis-aligned thoughts and feelings is something I go through multiple times a day. Even those small moments that create an existential crisis during your lunch break, or when a child is having a meltdown...it all felt TOO real.
The reason for four stars and not five - I was really missing the quotation marks. Chapter breaks - although the stream of consciousness worked here could have made it easier to pause.
Overall, one of BOTM's offset choices that worked for me!
This was a breath of fresh air, even when it got a little dark. The raw honesty behind Courtney's narration, all the mis-aligned thoughts and feelings is something I go through multiple times a day. Even those small moments that create an existential crisis during your lunch break, or when a child is having a meltdown...it all felt TOO real.
The reason for four stars and not five - I was really missing the quotation marks. Chapter breaks - although the stream of consciousness worked here could have made it easier to pause.
Overall, one of BOTM's offset choices that worked for me!
July 8, 2026
This is a short novel, 183 pages so I was actually able to read it in a couple of days. It does not have chapter titles, only occasional breaks. I’ve taught young kids for many years so I could relate to some of the situations with the kids. The daycare had a philosophy that was foreign to me so I found myself irritated with the somewhat troubled director who apparently had no accountability. It would make me run out from working there after a day! It was an interesting and well written book but I had mixed feelings on whether I “liked” the story.
July 16, 2026
This is dedicated to “women who take care of other peoples’ children” but spends four entire pages on the plot of Moana. How many women in childcare are likely to know more details about Rilke’s angels than Moana. Just a bit ridiculous.
I don’t know who gave Courtney Bush this many details of my personal life. Surely this was meant to polarize me specifically. I both hated much of this slight novel and adored far too much to rate it lowly. I think it’ll exist on my shelf less like a novel and more like a thread in the fabric of my consciousness.
I don’t know who gave Courtney Bush this many details of my personal life. Surely this was meant to polarize me specifically. I both hated much of this slight novel and adored far too much to rate it lowly. I think it’ll exist on my shelf less like a novel and more like a thread in the fabric of my consciousness.
July 11, 2026
Some books don’t ask for your attention—they gently earn it.
This book took me out of my comfort zone, but I’m so glad for it. I was honored to walk through a day in Courtney’s life - it felt as if I was a part of it.
I enjoyed her poetic writing style. I often found myself holding my breath in utter amazement. I’m the farthest thing from a teacher, but I am a mom. Insightful, masterful, I would recommend this to everyone!
This book took me out of my comfort zone, but I’m so glad for it. I was honored to walk through a day in Courtney’s life - it felt as if I was a part of it.
I enjoyed her poetic writing style. I often found myself holding my breath in utter amazement. I’m the farthest thing from a teacher, but I am a mom. Insightful, masterful, I would recommend this to everyone!
July 16, 2026
I just don’t know. There is so much good in this book especially the parts where she has these incredible insights about how a 3 to 4 year-old is processing information, learning things, watching and adapting.
But the stories that reflect back on her life and her experience seem almost rambling and disjointed. I like this book but almost think that I need to reread it and reread it again to understand it better.
But the stories that reflect back on her life and her experience seem almost rambling and disjointed. I like this book but almost think that I need to reread it and reread it again to understand it better.
July 12, 2026
I read this book in a day - not because it was great, but because I wanted it to be over. It started off TERRIBLE. I was amazed it got published. Once the children came into the story I enjoyed it a little. I wish it was more about them but now understand the beginning stages the end. But the beginning (imo) was poorly written. A little scattered. I wouldn’t recommend.
July 14, 2026
I think this book might have changed my life but it’s too early to say for sure. So relatable in a way that some passages felt like exact thoughts I’ve had, but never fully articulated yet. Also so good for anyone who works with children, like I cried. Courtney Bush if you are reading, I would love to talk.
July 16, 2026
I loved everything about this book. The stream of consciousness way of writing with no quotes was done excellently and I never want to put this book down. I loved learning about the children and hearing all of Courtney’s thoughts as a teacher. My heart was pounding near the end and I had to finish it. I read this whole book today and I could read anything else this author publishes.
July 5, 2026
I love this little book so much; it's definitely a 2026 favorite. Thank you to my hot husband for spending 3 hours searching for my perfect birthday book — I don't think I ever would have come across it otherwise.
July 16, 2026
it kind of feels wrong to even rate this book but i’ll certainly revisit it whenever I miss the sweet, all-encompassing, beautiful pain of loving and caring for other people’s children who will most likely never remember you
July 6, 2026
Giving this book to everyone
July 6, 2026
4.5 stars
oh! :D i understand the cover now.
just beautiful writing, cynical humor, and philosophical wonderings about what it means to be a child or care for one. and what a sick ending lol
oh! :D i understand the cover now.
just beautiful writing, cynical humor, and philosophical wonderings about what it means to be a child or care for one. and what a sick ending lol
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews