I Quit Grade One! Nancy Wilcox Richards. Illustrated by Tom Goldsmith. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2017. 27 pp., trade pbk., $7.99. ISBN 978-1-4431-3919-9. Preschool-grade 3 / Ages 3-8. Review by Alison Schroeder. **** /4

excerpt:

How will my teacher know that I need help tying my shoes?

Or that I don’t sit next to Liam because, when no one’s looking, he tries to pinch me?

Or that I only like to read books from the blue bin because they have more pictures?

I Quit Grade One is a story about a child named Stella whose grade one teacher is preparing to go on maternity leave. Stella is worried about who will be Ms. Carter’s replacement for the rest of the school year. Stella’s parents encourage her to give the new teacher a chance, but she is afraid of the changes that will come with someone unfamiliar. She decides to write a letter to the principal, and, in it, she asks if the new teacher can be trained to be just like Ms. Carter and requests that he make sure the new teacher is a nice person who likes kids. The principal writes Stella a letter back and arranges a time that Stella can meet the new teacher, Mr. Green. Stella agrees to meet Mr. Green, and he takes the time to get to know her and talk with her to help her feel more comfortable about the change.

     This book has some really good lessons in it for kids navigating changes at school, like a teacher going on maternity leave, but its contents would also be relevant to kids going through other changes, such as starting school for the first time, changing schools or other life events that might seem scary. It is really well-written and has very natural dialogue. It addresses issues of anxiety and fear which can be common in children, but which sometimes aren’t dealt with effectively. The book offers different options for kids to deal with stress, such as talking to a teacher or parent, writing about it and asking questions about things that are unfamiliar.

     The illustrations in I Quit Grade One are bright and engaging. They are very well-drawn and clearly depict the story that is being told. It’s important to note that the protagonist is a female person of colour which makes it more relatable for kids who aren’t as readily represented in books. I Quit Grade One would make a great addition to any school library or personal collection.