This Is a School

This Is Our World

by John Schu, Veronica Miller Jamison (illustrator)

A moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play, creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond walls.

A school isn’t just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. A place for sharing, for helping, and for community. It is a place of hope and healing, even when that community can’t be together in the same room. John Schu, a librarian and former ambassador of school libraries for Scholastic, crafts a loving letter to schools and the people that make up the communities within in a picture book debut beautifully illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Back To School, School Stories, Kids, Cultural

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 29, 2022

About the author

John Schu is the creator of the popular blog Mr. Schu Reads (mrschureads.blogspot.com), was the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University, and a former classroom teacher and school librarian. He has visited schools all over the world and has met with over 130,000 students, teachers, and administrators as he advocates for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, schools, and the libraries — and librarians — that connect them. This Is a School is his picture book debut. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois. You can find him at JohnSchu.com and on social media at @MrSchuReads.

Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begs to be read aloud to an eager circle of kids! Then, read again and again. A joyful portrayal of an inclusive, nurturing school community.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Veronica Miller Jamison's joyful and warm illustrations!

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Schu has spent years sharing books with us that speaks to our hearts. Now he has written one! It is the perfect "first day of school" read aloud! You'll want to go back and revisit it (read it again!) when your class has experiences like the class in the book. That will be at least twice a week? Once a day? Hang the poster in a prominent place. Stay tuned. There are more Mr. Schu books to come.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I loved the last sentence And we are all important. in this story about what life at a school looks like. I would have enjoyed reading this to kindergartners as a first day of school story.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An ode to all of the people who make up a lively and caring school community paired with joyful illustrations. This Is a School will become an instant classic for beginning of the school year read alouds.
Pair with School's First Day of School, The Day You Begin, & All Are Welcome.

[Donna K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a School is a delight for your eyes and heart. This gentle story highlights the many aspects of a school and reinforces that the heart of every school is the community which allows its members to flourish. Veronica Miller Jamison's colorful illustrations cheerefuly show this vibrant loving community where every member is valued. This is a story that will become a favorite as schools welcome new learners each year.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an elementary school counselor, I always look for a new "back to school" book for my start of the year/counselor intro lessons. I stumbled across this book the other day and fell in love! It's simple but also complex, inclusive, and all around the perfect message for the start of the year. I'm looking forward to reading it with all of my students in just a few weeks!

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

School is not just a place for learning. Children grow and change as their teachers help them to see their potential. The children discover their love of art and music. They make friends and help each other. They make mistakes and try to make amends. They fail at some things and try again. School is a place for exploration and community.

This is such a sweet picture book all about the joys of learning in a school and all the different people who work there. It's not just teachers who have an impact on the students. The parents, librarians, coaches, janitors, principals, and all the staff join together to create an atmosphere of learning.

I loved the cute illustrations with a diverse group of students! We see the kids put on a play, learn music, play on the playground, do science experiments, and all kinds of fun thing. Every page is colorful and full of smiling faces!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Deborah]

My favorite thing about this introduction to school is that it celebrates not only the activities that happen inside its walls, but also how they help children grow — which is sometimes from not having answers or feeling stuck, or even making mistakes — and how that growth happens communally. Words and pictures compliment each other perfectly (and their voice together reminds me a bit of the classic-feeling books of Anne and Lizzy Rockwell), bright and cheerfully kid-focussed with a plenty of detail for readers to pour over on every page.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully, diversely, illustrated - but too simplistic - the message fell flat.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A school is so much more than a place of learning. It's a whole community. In this debut picture book by John Schu, a well-known teacher librarian, readers are reminded how important each person is in building a school community. Starting with one child, the child joins a class that walks in the halls, learns in the classroom, plays on the playground, and helps each other as needed. Experiences that lead to growth and transformation, that require work, and overcoming mistakes, can help bring the school community together. The book highlights some of the ups and downs that occur in a school community and the importance of working together. Mistakes get made, students get stuck, community members get sick or injured, and growth continues. The book highlights the importance of school communities coming together to learn and grow. This book joyfully shares the wonderful things that can happen when parents, students, teachers, librarians, principals, helper, and staff come together for the good of all. While reality is messier than what one sees here, the book offers an ideal to strive for, and a reminder of the power that can be found in coming together to accomplish good things. Jamison's lovely illustrations are bright and cheerful and made me smile. A diverse community working and celebrating together shines in Jamison's eye-catching illustrations. A wonderful, inspiring book that provides something that the whole school community can work toward.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative tells a simple story of what makes a school community and how everyone—adults and children, teachers, staff, custodians and administrators—play important roles. The pictures show the community in all of its diverse glory! I think everyone who reads or is read this book will find familiar people and characters who look like them in the illustrations.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy for John Schu! This is his debut picture book. He has spent his career championing librarians, authors, illustrator, schools, and kids, and this book celebrates all those things/people. Veronica Miller Jamison's illustrations complete this joyful project. Perfect to read at the beginning of school to begin building a community. Jamison has made sure ALL kids will see themselves somewhere in this book! Highly recommended for classroom and school libraries.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the strong focus on community and the importance placed on everyone in the school. Diverse and positive look at school, classroom, and neighborhood. Wish that it could focus a bit more deeply on daily school activities though that would make the book longer.

[Debbi Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book. Wonderful, gorgeous, and fun.
This is a book that teaches inclusivity, invites curiosity, and encourages exploration.
Most of all, this is a book I will be gifting to teachers, parents, and young readers.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Schu always brings the joy when it comes to books and reading. He loves to share his love of books with everyone. This book is all about the joy of the school community. And the illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison are fabulous! I am so happy for John. I'm looking forward to sharing this wonderful, joyful book with students and teachers.

[Isabella Kung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a joyful read and a celebration of schools! I loved it!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic, but with the message of community.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the focus on COMMUNITY!

[Teacher Librarian Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen and look! A school is a community where we grow, learn, make mistakes and we are all important!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely!

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book about what school is and can and should be. The diversity represented here is wonderful. Lovely illustrations! So much positivity and light including all kinds of people within the school as well as all kinds of activities. This book is really about the school as not only its own community, but as part of the larger one.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timeless story that will be read aloud to children many years from now. Mr. Schu captures how special a school community is!

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought about school as a community when I was a student. Consequently, I never really felt that I was part of a community bigger than myself. However, as a teacher, I realized just what a large, important community school really is. And I think it is important for kids to understand that and that they, too, are a vital part of it. And that is just what this book tells young readers. Using the simplest of sentences, it begins with a kid. Each following page places the kid in different school situations - the school building, the class, the hall and describes what happens in each place. But school isn't just those things, it's also a diverse growing community where kids can find support, can learn, play, work, succeed and even make mistakes at times. This is an ideal book for children just getting ready to go to school, but also a good reminder for current students that they in a thriving community with many supportive adult helpers. The illustrations, done in watercolor, acrylic paint, and digital collage, are colorful and reinforce the message of the text. I am really looking forward to sharing this book with my young readers who will all be starting school next fall.

[Michelle Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to read this one to our students! It has a great message and the illustrations are perfect! I look forward to seeing the final copy.

Early digital copy from Edelweiss Plus.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a School written by John Schu and illustrated by Victoria Miller Jamison. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been following John Schu for years and I am thrilled that his first picture book has arrived in the world. This book will not disappoint! It is the PERFECT read aloud to share as you kick off the school year but it is also a splendid read aloud as a reminder of the importance of a school community. Schu’s story is an important tribute to all that a school is and can be. Jamison’s illustrations are bright and cheerful. They invite the reader into the book just like the happy school depicted in the book. If you and your students want to have a conversation about the school as a community or if you simply want to feel good, read This is a School.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This shares a lovely message about all of the people who help build a school community and it describes actions required in order to develop this special type of atmosphere. It is paired with bright artwork making it a perfect “first day of school” book that teachers will want to revisit throughout the year. Preorder now!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attractive illustrations show a modern and diverse school. The text is a little vague, a little disjointed. It starts in the vein of This is the House that Jack Built, but that only lasts the first page. This is one that might work better in person rather than me just reading it silently to myself, but at the moment I wish there was a bit more of a thread to follow.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intermediate text with ideas ranging from simple to complex. No overarching story here, just statements about what goes on at a school and in the larger community. Beautiful illustrations showing diverse range of children and adults including a child in a wheelchair

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple words/illustrations with an emotive community message centered around belonging, making mistakes/amends and learning from those around us!