“Dear Substitute,” by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Chris Raschka.
Hyperion, New York, 2018, 40 pages, K-2.
When children return to school, they often encounter people and events that are new to them. This can range from going to a different school, to meeting unfamiliar classmates. The one security for students is having the same teacher.
But what happens when the regular teacher is unable to come to school one day? Suddenly, a substitute teacher appears in the classroom. The children are not sure how to act as they do not know what kind of rules and expectations the new teacher has. This makes the school day begin on a very uneasy note. Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick have written an amusing account of such an event in the aptly-named title, “Dear Substitute.”
Mrs. Giordana runs a very ordered classroom. The students know just what to expect and find her kindness very important to their academic success. Knowing how nurturing she is, the students happily go into the classroom. Suddenly, a great change happens. A strange woman, Miss Pelly, wearing odd-colored glasses, walks into the room. She is the substitute teacher! Immediately, she begins taking attendance and mispronounces several names. Anxiety begins to rise.
One little girl looks at her homework and realizes it is not going to be collected—all that work for nothing. And to think, she left the basketball court to complete this assignment! During the Pledge of Allegiance, all the child can think of is her regular teacher. During the Pledge, she pledges allegiance to Mrs. Giordana instead of to the United States of America. Wow, this day is getting confused! But the problems continue to mount.
For once, the girl has brought back her library book. The substitute tells the class there is no need to go to the library because she has brought them a number of books to read. The first book she begins reading to the class is poetry. At first, the poems sound odd to the girl. But the more she listens to them, the more she wants to hear additional poems. As the day continues, the ordinary routine keeps changing and getting interrupted. But Miss Pelly seems to have so many interesting stories. The child begins to think that not everything has to be like it always is. Could it be that a substitute teacher is not so bad after all?
Does Miss Pelly help the children learn new and interesting things? Does life always have to go on an uninterrupted string? Have you ever had anything suddenly change? How did you feel? How does the little girl feel by the end of the story? To find out the answer to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this delightful title, “Dear Substitute” by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick.
Substitute teachers have long been a staple in children’s literature. The most famous is Viola Swamp, created by Harry Allard and hilariously illustrated by James Marshall. This reviewed book is a fun read. The little girl in the story doesn’t want a substitute teacher but learns that things in life can change and everyone can benefit. A suitable lesson for everyone. So if you want a fun read-aloud, this book fits the bill. You and your family will have fun together. Enjoy!
