Michelle Blanchard Ardillo

As a teacher for nearly 20 years, I can truly identify with the premise behind this soon to be published picture book titled Teacher Jitters (Charlesbridge, 2025) by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love. Although this is part of The Jitter Series, it is my first read from this author and illustrator.

I recall my first event outside of the classroom, a teacher’s retreat just a few days before school started. I drove myself there, parked, walked in the retreat center and through the lobby to the large meeting room. As I climbed the short flight of steps up to the room, I looked around and saw the sea of faces of complete strangers. The first person I met was also a new teacher, and even though we shared a considerable age difference, we clung to each other like a life raft in the ocean. That was in 2007 and we are still dear friends to this day, even though I changed schools in 2017 and retired in 2024.

Even as a seasoned teacher after several years, when we had district gatherings where we were split into small groups by grade level or content area, I still had my own small jitters going into a room without my colleagues from my own school. Of course, I made good friends through those events as well, seeing the same faces year after year even though we never taught together.

Julie Danneberg captured those feelings very well. The delightful twist was that she was aided by sweet little notes and drawings given to her by her own students, notes and drawings that carried her through her jittery day away from her students, school, and teaching colleagues.

I enjoyed reading this, and it brought back so many delightful memories of time in the classroom, the students that still wave to me or run up to greet me when I am out and about in my neighborhood. Just yesterday, a high school student who I taught for three years jogged across a crowded parking lot behind my car until I saw him and pulled over. He just wanted to say hi and that Honors English was challenging!

The writing is poignant and sweet. It would be a great read aloud for a class of 2nd or 3rd graders. If you are a teacher, you will surely love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.