Extra Special Author Top Ten Tuesday!: Favorite Fictional Picture Book Educators by Josh Funk, Author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast

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top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

 Today’s Topic: Favorite Fictional Picture Book Educators

First off, I’d like to thank Kellee & Ricki for inviting me to guest post on my favorite of days, #TopTenTuesday (which coincides with release day for my debut picture book Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast – available NOW – finally!). I’d also like to thank them for allowing me to pick my own topic. As it’s the beginning of the school year, and Kellee and Ricki are two of my favorite educator-bloggers, I thought I’d share my favorite educators from picture books (just picture books … I know there are many fabulous educators in middle-grade and up, too).

In a very particular order…

1. Miss Lila Greer, Iggy Peck’s teacher in Iggy Peck, Architect (also, Rosie Revere’s teacher in Rosie Revere, Engineer) by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts

iggy peck Rosie Revere

Iggy Peck, Architect is one of four books that inspired me to be a writer. I can’t wait to see if Miss Lila Greer has any other students destined for greatness.

2. Vashti’s Teacher in The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

the dot

One of the most inspirational teaching moments in picture book history, all stemming from one unnamed teacher’s dare.

3. Ms. Raymond, Ida’s teacher in Dotty by Erica S. Perl & Julia Denos

dotty

From The Dot to Dotty. In this great back to school book with the theme of giving up imaginary friends, Ms. Raymond will surprise you.

4. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle, Chrysanthemum’s teacher in Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum

I waffled between Mrs. Twinkle and Mr. Slinger (of Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse), but ultimately, the name put her over the top. (I’ve read enough #TopTenTuesday posts to know how to cheat and get more than 10 in, too, Kellee & Ricki … hee hee)

5. Tortoise in Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George & Merel Eyckerman

back to school tortoise

So, I just ruined the twist ending, but this one is adorable.

6. Miss Kirby, Bobby’s teacher in My Teacher Is a Monster (No I am Not) by Peter Brown

my teacher

I’ve been a huge fan of Peter Brown since I first encountered The Curious Garden, and the relationship between Bobby and Miss Kirby is hilarious.

7. Mrs. Quirk, from My Teacher’s Secret Life by Stephen Krensky & JoAnn Adinolfi

my teacher's secret life

Before teachers were monsters, they lived in school with all the other teachers, of course.

8. Mr. Falker, Trisha’s teacher in Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

Thank you Mr.

While it’s semi-autobiographical, it’s technically fiction. And wow is it emotional!

9. David’s teacher in David Goes to School by David Shannon

david goes to school

Anyone that can give a child like David a star after a day like that deserves about 5 million stars.

10. Miss Viola Swamp, Miss Nelson’s substitute in Miss Nelson Is Missing! by Harry Allard & James Marshall

miss nelson

No list of fictional picture book teachers would be complete without an entry from Harry Allard and James Marshall’s Miss Nelson series. For some reason, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with Miss Swamp. Yes, I’m afraid of her, but there’s just something about her that works for me…

Who are your favorite fictional picture book educators?

(and thanks again to Kellee & Ricki for letting me celebrate with them today)

About the Author: Josh Funk is the author of Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast (Sterling) which releases TODAY, September 1, 2015.

lady pancake and Sir

Josh is also the author of the forthcoming picture books Dear Dragon (Viking/Penguin 2016), Pirasaurs! (Scholastic 2017), & more. Josh was born and raised in Boston and graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Computer Science. When not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes picture book manuscripts, alongside his wife, children, and assorted pets & monsters. Josh is a board member of The Writers’ Loft in Sherborn, MA and the co-coordinator of the 2016 and 2017 New England Regional SCBWI Conferences. Find out more about Josh, his books, his schedule for public appearances, and more at www.joshfunkbooks.com and on twitter at @joshfunkbooks.

Thank you Josh for your guest list! We loved hosting you!

RickiSig and Signature

1 thought on “Extra Special Author Top Ten Tuesday!: Favorite Fictional Picture Book Educators by Josh Funk, Author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast”

  1. Love this post Josh! And that you have learned from some of the best (Kellee and Ricki) about how to slip in a few more titles . . . This has me thinking about who I would add to the list. I think Mr. Slinger is pretty charming. I am heading in to work to “visit” some of my books and I will see if anyone else stands out. Oh, and Happy syrup on everything day to you Mr. Funk!

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