As soon as she arrives at school, Kitty knows there’s trouble. “Smiling Miss Seabrooke should be here to meet me. But my teacher is missing and NOT here to greet me.” With no Miss Seabrooke, everyone should be sent home, right? But no! Kitty and her classmates line up as usual and walk into the school building. Kitty’s worries build as she wonders how she will get through the day without her teacher. What will she do when her Thermos gets stuck or her jacket won’t zip? Miss Seabrooke is the only one who can fix these things. Or is she? Author Lana Button perfectly captures the fears and uncertainties of a kindergartner dealing with her first substitute teacher. She also models a way to cope, as Kitty steps up to help the substitute — a “ginormously tall” giraffe named Mr. Omar — and discovers that sometimes change can be good. Button’s playful and lively cadenced rhyming text, together with Christine Battuz’s friendly illustrations of a full cast of animal characters at school, make this a terrific picture book for story time. It provides an excellent lead-in to prepare a class for their first substitute, or for a discussion about how it feels when life doesn’t go as expected. A celebration of self-discovery and personal development, this book also makes a wonderful choice for character education lessons on kindness, empathy and perseverance. Educators will appreciate the heartfelt depiction of a young child’s warm feelings for her teachers. PreS-Gr 1—A comforting and helpful story about just what to expect when your teacher is sick. Right away, the little cat knows something is amiss. Her teacher, Miss Seabrooke (a cozy looking chicken with happy round pink glasses) is not at school. She is even more startled by their substitute standing in Miss Seabrooke's spot. Mr. Omar (a tall giraffe with a deep voice), is very different from Miss Seabrooke and she is a bit scared and hesitant at first, but as the day goes by the young protagonist learns that she can manage without her teacher and even be a big help to Mr. Omar. The playtime images are fun and inviting, and textural overlays add depth to the hand-drawn and digital collage illustrations without cluttering the page. The classroom is filled with realistic and practical school details such as a handwashing station and a comfortable reading nook that can help acclimate younger readers to the things they might find in a school environment. The comical rhyming text perfectly captures the fear and hesitation of a day without the reassuring presence of a beloved teacher. VERDICT A practical and reassuring book for parents and caregivers to share with young children, especially when their established routines are disrupted. Recommended for purchase.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library This book nicely helps young readers process a common concern ...― Kirkus Reviews A practical and reassuring book for parents and caregivers to share with young children, especially when their established routines are disrupted.― School Library Journal ... a thoughtful gift for the awesome teacher in any child's life.― The Calgary Herald ... a warm tale of reassurance ...― Resource Links Lana Button works in early childhood education. Her writing has been published in Lady Bug magazine and Today's Parent. Willow's Whispers is Lana's first book for Kids Can Press. Christine Battuz has illustrated over sixty books for children, including Wade's Wiggly Antlers, and has taught art to children of all ages. She lives in Bromont, Quebec.