Where Did My Teacher Go?

Reviewed By Amy Raines for Readers’ Favorite

Where Did My Teacher Go? is written by Penny Steinke. A devoted kindergarten teacher leaves school for a while to deal with a personal medical problem. The students in her classroom are concerned about where the teacher might be. The kids consider several different possibilities, such as vacation locations, nail salons, caring for a new pet, or maybe riding in a hot air balloon. The teacher, who is facing a crisis of her own, writes the story of the true journey she had to face and how it changed her life in so many different ways. How long before the teacher returns to her class? Will the children understand where she has been and what she had to go through? Will the teacher have to leave the class again?

Where Did My Teacher Go? is a true inspiration. Penny Steinke does an amazing job describing what she had to go through in the hospital in a way that young children can easily understand. The pictures of the students, family, friends, hospital staff, and personal photos express how much a circle of support can help someone through such a trying time. I love how Steinke explains the importance of organ donation as well as sharing her own experiences with the ups and downs of the pain and surgery. I recommend Where Did My Teacher Go? to anyone who has children in their life that may or may not understand the concept of organ transplant and how important these life saving procedures are.