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Dear Teacher: A Funny Back To School Book For Kids About First Day Jitters
Face your first day jitters with the perfect laugh-out-loud back to school comedy. Can Michael's imagination save him from the first day of school? Dear Teacher is a hilarious collection of letters from Michael to his new teacher explaining why he can't go to class. From traveling to the pyramids of Egypt to getting attacked by pirates and going to the moon in a rocket ship, each letter is increasingly outlandish and covered with Michael's incredibly funny sketches from his many "adventures." When Michael's teacher writes back telling him how sorry she is he'll miss all of the exciting school activities planned for the year, Michael realizes all the fun he'd really miss out on. This book is perfect for a teacher to use in the classroom, or for families to read together at home before going back to school.
24 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Amy Husband
27 booksAward-winning illustrator, Amy Husband, graduated from Liverpool School of Art in 2006, where she gained a BA in Graphic Art.
Whilst she was there she developed a passion for children's picture books and set her heart on a career as an illustrator.
Amy's first book 'Dear Miss' was voted the winner of the Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Award 2010. She has now tried her hand at writing and 'The Noisy Foxes' is the outcome.
Whilst she was there she developed a passion for children's picture books and set her heart on a career as an illustrator.
Amy's first book 'Dear Miss' was voted the winner of the Cambridgeshire Children's Picture Book Award 2010. She has now tried her hand at writing and 'The Noisy Foxes' is the outcome.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 19, 2019
Extended reading diary: 'Dear Teacher'
‘Dear Teacher’ is about a young boy, Michael, who writes a series of letters to his teacher stating various reasons why he misses class. The reasons are varied and very imaginative, such as being attacked by pirates and flying to the moon in a rocket. This keeps the children engaged and provides building suspense and engagement. The book is colourfully set out with illustrations in the format of cartoons and the letters are also in a range of styles from letters to postcards, and these are illustrated with lined paper or the layout of a postcard. This was used as the basis for a Literacy lesson with Year 1 where the class was looking at the layout of writing letters. They used the book as an inspiration to write letters to their teacher as to why they missed school, what they’d miss about school and what they’d do when they got there. This allowed for the children to use their imagination to come up with the most interesting reasons for missing class! They also looked at where the address and date are written as these are also included in the book. In addition, the book has some lift-the-flap letters and letters of various sizes, some take up double pages and others are shorter, corresponding with why Michael is late that day. The class also looked at features of letters such as ‘P.S’ and what this was used for. The book allowed for a wide range of English topics to be covered in depth, particularly regarding writing letters, but the use of the book and its creative plot made the lesson more interesting and engaging for the children. It was very effective to use as a base for a lesson, and older children such as Year 1 and above were able to appreciate the imaginative ideas and Michael’s situation with going to school, but with younger children this may be lost and the book could become slightly repetitive due to its recurring letter format. Never the less, the children enjoyed it in the lesson and I think it could be used effectively in schools, particularly Literacy lessons.
‘Dear Teacher’ is about a young boy, Michael, who writes a series of letters to his teacher stating various reasons why he misses class. The reasons are varied and very imaginative, such as being attacked by pirates and flying to the moon in a rocket. This keeps the children engaged and provides building suspense and engagement. The book is colourfully set out with illustrations in the format of cartoons and the letters are also in a range of styles from letters to postcards, and these are illustrated with lined paper or the layout of a postcard. This was used as the basis for a Literacy lesson with Year 1 where the class was looking at the layout of writing letters. They used the book as an inspiration to write letters to their teacher as to why they missed school, what they’d miss about school and what they’d do when they got there. This allowed for the children to use their imagination to come up with the most interesting reasons for missing class! They also looked at where the address and date are written as these are also included in the book. In addition, the book has some lift-the-flap letters and letters of various sizes, some take up double pages and others are shorter, corresponding with why Michael is late that day. The class also looked at features of letters such as ‘P.S’ and what this was used for. The book allowed for a wide range of English topics to be covered in depth, particularly regarding writing letters, but the use of the book and its creative plot made the lesson more interesting and engaging for the children. It was very effective to use as a base for a lesson, and older children such as Year 1 and above were able to appreciate the imaginative ideas and Michael’s situation with going to school, but with younger children this may be lost and the book could become slightly repetitive due to its recurring letter format. Never the less, the children enjoyed it in the lesson and I think it could be used effectively in schools, particularly Literacy lessons.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2021
This is a brilliant, light hearted book all about a little boy who does not want to go back to school. A great one to use for transition days.
June 10, 2010
Michael, who is not looking forward to school, writes a series of outrageous letters to his new teacher. Each letter spins a fantastical tale of Michael's adventures fighting pirates, hunting for treasure, and traveling to outer space. Perfect for the first week of school or a launching a letter writing unit.
June 12, 2016
I was looking for some books to support a topic in year one, based on Meerkat mail. This humorous book show children some great examples of letters, post cards and even a telegram. Could be used as a stimulas for a fun homework task over the summer holidays.
June 29, 2025
It’s the first day of school! However, a boy has some other plans. He and his dog Bruno were asked to locate a missing explorer at the top of a mountain, so he will have to miss some days of school. However, the explorer told them that he heard of a secret treasure in the pyramids! It was too enticing to pass, so he had to miss more days of school. Follow the boy and his trusty companion Bruno as they send a series of letters to their teacher about why they’ll have to miss a bit of school. Until… the teacher sends a letter back and talks about all of the fun things they will be doing. Will the boy and Bruno change their mind? Find out in this book!
Reason for Recommendation: This book follows a child’s imagination as they wonder how they could tell their teachers they don’t want to go to school. However, it shows that school is a very fun place and will make kids want to go.
Reason for Recommendation: This book follows a child’s imagination as they wonder how they could tell their teachers they don’t want to go to school. However, it shows that school is a very fun place and will make kids want to go.
June 19, 2017
Synopsis: "This hilarious collection of letters from Michael to his new teacher comes packed with alligators, pirates and rocket-ships, and much, much more. Can Michael's imagination save him from the first day of school?"
My Review: There comes a time when kids will start to dread going back to school and this fun book shows the creativity Michael has to avoid going to school on the first day. I like how this is written in letter format between the new teacher and Michael. Each letter gets a little more creative and is full of illustrations of the adventures Michael comes up with. I think a lot of kids will enjoy this book though the kids who don't like school are probably too old to be picking up a picture book.
My Review: There comes a time when kids will start to dread going back to school and this fun book shows the creativity Michael has to avoid going to school on the first day. I like how this is written in letter format between the new teacher and Michael. Each letter gets a little more creative and is full of illustrations of the adventures Michael comes up with. I think a lot of kids will enjoy this book though the kids who don't like school are probably too old to be picking up a picture book.
August 20, 2018
Do you have a child who is NOT happy about going back to school? Sometimes these situations call for a dose of humor, imagination, and just plain silliness. DEAR TEACHER delivers all three with childlike drawings and wildly imaginative letters from Michael to his teacher giving all the reasons why he just won’t be able to make it to the first day of school (secret spy missions, crocodile wrestling, and trips to the moon *do* take time). 😂 Pick up this book for a giggly read-aloud and to discover the teacher’s brilliant response.
August 13, 2018
This book is made up of letters from a boy to his new teacher explaining all the crazy reasons he will not be able to make it to the first day of school. A perfect, fun book to read with my kids during summer vacation but with a happy ending that shows school is going to be a lot of fun once they are back.
October 8, 2018
A little boy writes outlandish letters to his teacher explaining why he will miss the first days of school.
I think young children will get a kick out of it, but I found the letters redundant and lacking.
I think young children will get a kick out of it, but I found the letters redundant and lacking.
June 27, 2020
Great book with examples of letters and also a great resource to support with transition.
January 23, 2024
This is a great book for the end of the year to help children to transition into their next class.
September 21, 2025
This one was fun because then they wrote me letters coming up with insane reasons they couldn’t come to school. It was super cute
Read
July 8, 2010This is such a cute book for the start of the school year! It was released this month, so if you're a teacher, librarian, or otherwise involved with school age kids, you may want to check this one out.
I was hooked at the cover, which is made to look like a large envelope, with postage and all! It even opens like one...what kid wouldn't love that?! Once inside, it reminded me a lot of The Jolly Postman, which I used to enjoy sharing with my kindergartners. The difference with this one is that the letters/post cards are the story, don't come out of the book, and are all written by the same person, until the end.
Michael writes to his teacher before school starts, in response to her "Welcome" letter, that many teachers today write to their students. He uses different correspondence forms: letters, a telegram, and a post card. The book even shows Michael mailing the letters in different mail boxes. Most of the book is made up of letters from Michael, so it would be a good book to use when teaching letter writing as well. Michael always includes a P.S., which is something that a lot of kids don't know about.
Michael's whole intent, is to let his teacher know why he will not be at school on the 1st day, and what an imagination he has! He talks about travels to other cities, countries, climates, etc. Amy Husband does a wonderful job of not only telling about the places Michael travels, through his letters, but also illustrating the highlights of that place. The illustrations are child like, so it really looks like Michael has added drawings to his letters to help his teacher understand where he is and what he's doing. Very eye-catching, bright, vivid illustrations that children are sure to love!
I'm sure there are many children who feel like Michael, not wanting to go to school on the first day, the end to summer vacation, and having to let go of all they have been doing. What a great way to express those feelings, through letter writing! Wouldn't that be a good lesson/activity for the first day/week of school? Write a response to your teacher's welcome letter. You could use any correspondence format: post card, letter, etc. I can see a whole slew of ideas coming from teachers with this book! May be I'll challenge my teachers to see what they can come up with? There's so much: letter writing, geography, story telling, etc.
I'm always on the look out for books to start the school year with, and will definitely be sharing this one with the teachers on my campus!
I was hooked at the cover, which is made to look like a large envelope, with postage and all! It even opens like one...what kid wouldn't love that?! Once inside, it reminded me a lot of The Jolly Postman, which I used to enjoy sharing with my kindergartners. The difference with this one is that the letters/post cards are the story, don't come out of the book, and are all written by the same person, until the end.
Michael writes to his teacher before school starts, in response to her "Welcome" letter, that many teachers today write to their students. He uses different correspondence forms: letters, a telegram, and a post card. The book even shows Michael mailing the letters in different mail boxes. Most of the book is made up of letters from Michael, so it would be a good book to use when teaching letter writing as well. Michael always includes a P.S., which is something that a lot of kids don't know about.
Michael's whole intent, is to let his teacher know why he will not be at school on the 1st day, and what an imagination he has! He talks about travels to other cities, countries, climates, etc. Amy Husband does a wonderful job of not only telling about the places Michael travels, through his letters, but also illustrating the highlights of that place. The illustrations are child like, so it really looks like Michael has added drawings to his letters to help his teacher understand where he is and what he's doing. Very eye-catching, bright, vivid illustrations that children are sure to love!
I'm sure there are many children who feel like Michael, not wanting to go to school on the first day, the end to summer vacation, and having to let go of all they have been doing. What a great way to express those feelings, through letter writing! Wouldn't that be a good lesson/activity for the first day/week of school? Write a response to your teacher's welcome letter. You could use any correspondence format: post card, letter, etc. I can see a whole slew of ideas coming from teachers with this book! May be I'll challenge my teachers to see what they can come up with? There's so much: letter writing, geography, story telling, etc.
I'm always on the look out for books to start the school year with, and will definitely be sharing this one with the teachers on my campus!
August 3, 2011
Dear Teacher is an adorable read with high emphasis on the imagination. This is definitely a read that would be perfect for children either going back to school, or fearful of returning. The novel follows Michael as he is getting ready to return for another year of school. While it seems that Michael is very excited about his new year of year... life has a way of interrupting.
For me, Dear Teacher was a blast to read. Very quick. Very humorous. And just plain cute. Michael was a fantastic character. I loved following him on his adventures. In addition, I absolutely fell in love with the set up of this novel. It was very colorful and kept my attention throughout the whole novel.
If you are a parent or a teacher will students who reluctant to return to school, I definitely recommend that you should them this novel. It shows school in a really fun and exciting way that is sure to please both adults and children alike.
For me, Dear Teacher was a blast to read. Very quick. Very humorous. And just plain cute. Michael was a fantastic character. I loved following him on his adventures. In addition, I absolutely fell in love with the set up of this novel. It was very colorful and kept my attention throughout the whole novel.
If you are a parent or a teacher will students who reluctant to return to school, I definitely recommend that you should them this novel. It shows school in a really fun and exciting way that is sure to please both adults and children alike.
July 5, 2010
Plot/Story Line:
This book revolved around Michael and his dog Bruno who decide they don’t want to go back to school once the summer is over. Michael writes letters to his teacher explaining why he may be late, and as the letters progress, why he may not be able to show up at all. Everything from having to help the Secret Service to having to go to the moon. I laughed throughout this book. It’s exactly what any kid out there would write to his teacher. It was well written and kids will be able to connect to the letters as it plays on their own imaginations.
Editing and Writing Style:
This was cute. The book is wrapped in a cover that simulates an international envelope. Each page shows a new letter written by Michael and the drawings to accompany them are funny. I think it’s spot on.
This book revolved around Michael and his dog Bruno who decide they don’t want to go back to school once the summer is over. Michael writes letters to his teacher explaining why he may be late, and as the letters progress, why he may not be able to show up at all. Everything from having to help the Secret Service to having to go to the moon. I laughed throughout this book. It’s exactly what any kid out there would write to his teacher. It was well written and kids will be able to connect to the letters as it plays on their own imaginations.
Editing and Writing Style:
This was cute. The book is wrapped in a cover that simulates an international envelope. Each page shows a new letter written by Michael and the drawings to accompany them are funny. I think it’s spot on.
January 8, 2011
I'll admit that I was expecting more from this. With such a unique packaging I thought what I'd find inside the book would be pretty awesome. It's not bad, just not great enough to read again.
I'd agree with other reviewers that it would make a good addition to a classroom setting but if you're reading it at home to your own children check it out from the library and save your money.
The little tie-in with the baby brother at the end was probably the best part and it was a sentence.
I'd agree with other reviewers that it would make a good addition to a classroom setting but if you're reading it at home to your own children check it out from the library and save your money.
The little tie-in with the baby brother at the end was probably the best part and it was a sentence.
July 5, 2014
Principal Grindstone writes Michael a welcome letter sharing all the difficult things they will be doing in school this year. Michael's reply is a series of letters from exciting locations throughout the world, explaining why he will be late returning to school.
This will be a terrific read aloud for the beginning of the school year, and also a great introduction to writing letters.
This will be a terrific read aloud for the beginning of the school year, and also a great introduction to writing letters.
November 17, 2010
A really fun book about a young boy's letters to his teacher all giving her reasons why we won't be at school for the first part of the year. Very imaginative read.
November 28, 2013
Great book that kids will find funny.
November 20, 2016
Super cute book filled with letters from a student to his new teacher!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews