Librarian's Quest: It Is . . .

When you read the word, hear the word, or see the place in passing, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it the musical chatter of a collection of voices on a bouncing bus or filling a hallway? Is it the shouting laughter heard in a gymnasium or on a playground? Is it the voice of a calming adult in a tense situation or telling a story to a group of listeners leaning toward that person, hoping to become a part of the tale? Do you think of safe space, creative community, or excited exploration? Are the words mentor, best friend, or supportive stranger a part of that memory?

From the first time we walk through the door of our school, we are becoming. The people there, the places inside and outside those walls, and entire sensory experiences, individual and shared, shape and connect us. In This Is A School (Candlewick Press, March 29, 2022) words by John Schu and illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison, we are able to see how our stories grow and intertwine with others. Within this book, rhythmic words and lively, vibrant images declare an invitation for infinite possibilities.

This is a kid.

This child is one of many in a class. Currently, the class is in the hall in this school. The atmosphere sings out a silent and vocal welcome.

In this school we are invited to see and hear. In our seeing and hearing, we seek answers. Each question is valuable to us and those around us. Sometimes, the replies are confusing, but that is okay. We are surrounded by those willing to assist us.

Each day, whatever we do, we do it individually and together. We promote each others' discoveries. We elevate our differences and similarities. If we cannot be together, we are still surrounded by those sending out their compassion to us any way they can.

It is here, in this school, we are building, layer by layer, our best selves. We play. We work. We have setbacks and victories. We are always seeing and hearing with everyone in this school. It is here that each child in each class knows they are significant, a piece in a beautiful whole.

With his first few sentences, John Schu not only takes a child (us) into a school, but warmly accepts us. We are told to look and listen. As each portion of his poem unfolds, we come to understand this is not any kid but every kid. In the initial scenario an encouraging, engaging cadence is established. After each scenario is disclosed, it is followed by four two-word affirmations.

We learn.

is in each of those four-phrase declarations.

John Schu also uses another technique to supply us with a reading rhythm. After the first setting, the others begin with a repeating phrase followed by a defining word. School and community are synonymous and both are in constant transition. Happy positivity binds each part of the narrative together until the end. It is here we are asked to again look and listen. We are more than we were in the beginning. Here is a passage.

Sometimes something happens,

and we can't all be together.

We learn.

We care.

We hope.

We heal.

Let take a moment to salute the choice of color palette we are introduced to on the open and matching dust jacket and book case. It resonates JOY! On the front, the right side, the teal and turquoise brick building with the splash of red orange around the windows is stunning. The hues in the pennants hanging across the doorway are reflected in the clothing worn by the characters. Do you notice how everyone is actively participating in this moment? Be sure to notice the details such as the butterfly, the objects held by several of the children and the pinwheel in the principal's hand. Here and throughout the book, children and adults from a variety of ethnicities are featured.

On the other side of a bright yellow spine, on the left, we are taken inside the school. Children sit on a circle rug in their library as their librarian reads aloud. Notebooks, paper, and writing utensils are near all the children on the rug. One child is walking toward the circle carrying a stack of books. The windows in the school are above the characters. Beneath them is a section of the brick wall.

When the jacket is removed from the case, the underside unfolds to become a poster. We are near the nine gathered children. There are books on shelves framing the image. There are books in stacks and scattered on the floor about them. They are reading and chatting with each other about what they are reading. This image brings to us the very real sense of togetherness found in the book. The children here reveal more about themselves as the pictorial enhancement is disclosed within the pages of the book.

The opening and closing endpapers are a layered pattern of pinwheels. They are all the same color, shades of orange and peach and turquoise and teal. The background is a very light teal and white.

These illustrations rendered by Veronica Miller Jamison in

watercolor, acrylic paint, and digital collage

are two-page pictures, full-page pictures and smaller images grouped on a single page. The children are highly animated with facial expressions, especially their eyes, portraying their emotions. Their clothing sometimes reveals their interests. Readers will want to observe all the extra elements. The bulletin board in the hallway foreshadows activities highlighted later in the story. Pinwheels appear again. And so do the adults we saw bringing their children to school in the morning and those adults greeting the kids. The size of the fonts and placement of text is perfection.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture. It is for the words

This is a community, celebrating.

In the gymnasium, along the back wall, are a series of alternating colorful banners. Snowflakes of varying sizes are suspended in front of those banners. Along the top, the custodian, wearing a Santa hat, is stringing white lights. The school librarian and principal are assisting the children. As the kids set up a refreshment table and recognize different holidays, all of them are participating. Items focusing on Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Chinese New Year, and Diwali are shown. You can feel the happiness!

This book, This Is A School words by John Schu with artwork by Veronica Miller Jamison, is both timely and timeless. Regardless of your mood when you begin reading it, it will be much better, lighter, when you finish. This is a title to share anytime of the year. This is a title which will be requested to be read again repeatedly. This is wonderful because it is a read aloud gold. You will want to have multiple copies in your professional collection and at least one in your personal collection.

To discover more about John Schu and Veronica Miller Jamison and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. John Schu has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Veronica Miller Jamison has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The cover reveal was hosted by Travis Jonker, an elementary school librarian in Michigan at School Library Journal, 100 Scope Notes. There is a fabulous interview with both creators. The book trailer was premiered at John Schu's blog, Watch. Connect. Read. Husband and wife authors, Chris Baron and Jennifer Ziegler collaborate to bring us This One's Dedicated To . . . In their 45th episode, they chat with John Schu and Veronica Miller Jamison about their dedications in This Is A School and the book in general. John Schu and Veronica Miller Jamison chat with Ailsa Chang on NPR, All Things Considered about this book. John Schu was recently interviewed at Publishers Weekly. Through the publisher, author, podcaster, and fifth grade teacher Colby Sharp prepared a Teacher's Guide. At Penguin Random House, you can view interior images.