The Best Teacher Ever! By Dianne Bates (Woodslane Press) Junior Fiction RRP AU$16.99 ISBN 978 1 923350 08 3
Reviewed by Robyn Gillies
Mia lives on a hobby farm with her parents and her younger sister and brother. Her family is struggling financially so their mother returns to work, and this puts additional responsibility on Mia. Mia loves all the farm animals, but she has a special connection with her pet goat Iggy.
The
new school year is about to start, and Mia is worried that she won’t make new
friends as her best friend isn’t coming back. But Mia is teased by the other
children when Iggy escapes from her tether and tries to board the school bus on
the very first day of school.
This story taps into a common theme for many young people when they start the new school year: being anxious about making friends.
Mia is a thoughtful and respectful girl beyond her years who demonstrates emotional intelligence and sensitivity when her new friend Evie finally shares her secret with Mia.
There are several little side stories which add depth and dimension but primarily this is a tale about the realities of life and loss on a small, hobby farm, about how everyone needs to pitch in together to make it work, and about family relationships, self-growth and how we all live differently.
This is a great book to demonstrate that sometimes life isn’t always smooth and straightforward but with good friends comes good support, and that together, you can help each other when times are tough.
The role of the teacher is key to this story, but it plays craftily in the background without taking over.
Loved the little outline pictures between chapters and sections. They are just perfect, and they add a visual element that will be appealing to young readers.
This
is a junior fiction chapter book that will suit children around 5-9 years.
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