Who would enjoy reading WE LOVE YOU, MRS. McCORKLE?

I suppose because the central group of characters in the story are Grade Fours, that I should say 9 , 10, 11 year olds would love to read it; however, I have presented it to teachers’ groups as well, and they see it not only as a children’s book , but as a story about the teaching experience itself.

It is dedicated , not only to children, but also to teachers everywhere after all!
I’ve read it to children in a school setting when it was only in manuscript form, with not a picture in sight. They enjoyed the story line as I read it, in sections, over a four day period. Their feedback told me that they recognized themselves in some of the characters. One little girl especially saw herself in Reebie because she missed a favourite teacher that had left the school.

A teaching colleague of mine remarked after reading it that McCORKLE should be required reading for all those going into Teachers’ College. Not your typical text for that purpose, but it certainly would be a fun reminder that teaching is not just delivering information, but it is relating to students on a person to person , human level. I was toying with the idea at one point of calling it a “Children’s Book for Teachers” right on the cover, but I rethought that idea after considering the confusion it might cause.

In the end , to answer my own original question, if you are a boy or girl who enjoys a story with several twists along the way, with bright, colourful, intriguing illustrations, then you should give WE LOVE YOU, MRS. McCORKLE a try.

If you’re a teacher, it will speak to you as well; you’ll “get” the message without feeling as if you are reading a children’s book. If you know a teacher, especially one in the elementary system, he or she would appreciate the journey of the students and understand the point of view of the teacher as well.

Hope this helped you to decide where the story of Mrs. McCorkle and her students should live.