Happy World Teachers Day! We’re celebrating the work of teachers everywhere.
Teaching is a great job, it’s a wonderful feeling when you know you have been influential in a student’s learning or you help them to understand a concept that they have preciously found difficult. Time spent in the classroom can bring many surprises and you need to be flexible, inspirational and have a good sense of humour to deal with situations that may arise. The fictional teachers that we have chosen on World Teachers Day need patience and humour when teaching their students and are all inspirational in their own way.
Boris Saves The Show by Carrie Weston and Tim Chapman
One of our favourite picture book teachers is Miss Cluck who is Boris’ kind and supportive teacher. Despite the fact that her classroom and many of its resources are unsuitable for a large bear she does her best to include him in activities and is there to help him when things go wrong. We particularly love her inspirational classroom wall displays in Boris Saves the Show.
Mrs Pepperpot Learns to Swim by Alf Prøysen and Hilda Owen
Mrs Pepperpot has a very unusual swimming teacher! When she shrinks while trying to swim in the local pond she is rescued by a pompous frog who teaches her how to swim before she grows again.
Cactus Annie by Melanie Williamson
Miss Tumbleweed needs to have a lot of patience on Cactus Annie’s first day at school as Cactus Annie is not a natural cowgirl. However, when Cactus Annie singlehandedly saves the school’s cows from the pesky rats Miss Tumbleweed is very happy to give her a medal for bravery.
Otter Goes to School by Sam Garton
Otter becomes a teacher and soon finds that teaching can be a challenge when she needs to find a way to help Teddy, who thinks he isn’t any good at anything!
School for Dads by Charlotte and Adam Guillain and Ada Grey
This story takes an amusing look at what happens when children become teachers to try and improve their fathers’ behaviour and show them what is important to them. By the end of the day the children realise that it isn’t easy being a grown up and that, despite some shortcomings, all their fathers have qualities that should be celebrated.
Matilda by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake
Matilda’s teacher, Miss Honey, is a kind and friendly advocate when she comes up against her new headteacher, the forbidding Miss Trunchbull. Miss Honey is so kind and caring that Matilda eventually leaves her unsupportive family and goes to live with her.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling
Although he has some slightly unorthodox teaching methods we love Hagrid’s classes. He is such an unconventional teacher and I’m amused by some of the dangerous creatures (which he considers harmless!) that he uses in his Care of Magical Creatures classes. Do you have a favourite Hogwarts teacher?
We would love to hear about your favourite fictional teachers in the comments.
My all-time favorite fictional teacher still has to be Amelia Bedelia from the series written by Peggy Parish.
I loved Amelia Bedelia when I was a child, I can’t wait to read the stories with my daughter 🙂
Flat Stanley comes to mind, but my all time favorite is the BFG by Roald Dahl.
I must read The BFG again, I can’t remember the story!
I always wanted Miss Honey to be my teacher growing up!
She’s lovely isn’t she. I’m so glad that she and Matilda get their happy endings 🙂
I’ve not read any of these books so I’ll definitely have to check them out. I really admire teachers as they do a wonderful yet hard job!! thanks for linking up with #readwithme x
Teaching is hard work but being part of a child’s learning is a lovely privilege 🙂
I’m sure I remember a Mrs Pepperpot from my childhood. I didn’t realise it was Teacher’s Day, I may have sent my son in with a treat if I had…Some teachers are truly amazing.
Teachers have really been challenged this year and I think they’ve done a fabulous job, especially as many are under so much stress themselves.
I love all your cute books. I come from a family of teachers who love reading. Love this post in particular. #MMBC
I’m from a family of teachers too although they aren’t as quirky as some of the teachers in these books :o)
Teachers are amazing people and I appreciate them even more since I had to home school my youngest at the start of lockdown.
What lovely books. Matilda was one of my favourites when I was a child x
I think we all recognise how much teachers do for our children after lockdown! They’ve done an amazing job under very difficult conditions this year.
My boys and I are huge Harry Potter fans and my favorite teacher is Professor Lupin.
Professor Lupin is a really interesting character. I’m not sure how I’d feel about being taught by a werewolf!