SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: LOOK HOW MUCH I’VE GROWN IN KINDERGARTEN
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://thetututeacher.com
CITY: Brooklyn, New York
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Educator, educational consultant, and social media influencer.
WRITINGS
Author of the Tutu Teacher blog.
SIDELIGHTS
Vera Ahiyya is an educator, educational consultant, and social media influencer. In an interview in the Brown Bookshelf, Ahiyya talked with Kelly Starling Lyons about her journey as a writer and the things that moved her to write. Ahiyya felt strongly that “students need to see themselves and their peers in the books they read, and to engage with varying viewpoints. How can educators create a safe and nurturing space that inspires young children to explore diversity and ask curious questions?”
With KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day, Ahiyya partnered with illustrator Joey Chou to create a picture book that centered on practicing kindness while starting school. Introverted Leo is unsure of himself upon starting kindergarten. Teacher Ms. Perry helps Leo meet the other students and makes friends, reassuring him that he will be fine. Together, the kindergartners make a Kindness Pledge, vowing to be kind to one another and listing all the kind things they will do to create a positive classroom environment. Le starts to come out of his shell as he sees all the nice things his classmates plan to do throughout the year.
A Publishers Weekly contributor noticed that “Ahiyya tunes into her upbeat, proactively compassionate vibe.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews suggested that receiving help would “alleviate fears and start kids thinking about ways to create their own KINDergartens.” Writing in School Library Journal, Tanya Boudreau suggested that “this would be a wonderful book to read aloud on the first day of kindergarten.”
In Look How Much I’ve Grown in KINDergarten, Mason feels insecure about the things she can’t do but her kindergarten classmates can. After she claims she won’t attend school anymore, her mother suggests that she talk with her teacher about these issues. Ms. Perry decides to make the morning meeting about growth, which parallels the change of season to spring. She sets up a chart so that students can track their growth in areas that they want to improve. Mason decides she wants to track her growth in reading. Over time, she learns the letters to spell her own name. As she learns more letters, she gains in confidence after seeing her progress on the chart.
In a review in School Library Journal, Carrie Voliva found it to be “a dose of comfort for the littlest learners feeling overwhelmed by all the skills they’re working on.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews remarked that “this is a rather bland story, but it should reassure youngsters.” The same reviewer concluded by calling it “a valuable reminder that learning and growing take time, practice, and patience.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2022, review of KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day; January 1, 2024, review of Look How Much I’ve Grown in Kindergarten.
Publishers Weekly, November 23, 2022, review of KINDergarten, p. 24.
School Library Journal, August 1, 2022, Tanya Boudreau, review of KINDergarten, p. 70; March 1, 2024, Carrie Voliva, review of Look How Much I’ve Grown in KINDergarten, p. 69.
ONLINE
Brown Bookshelf, https://thebrownbookshelf.com/ (February 20, 2022), Kelly Starling Lyons, “Day 20: Vera Ahiyya.”
Hi!
I’m Vera. A dancing and singing, twirling and whirling, tutu wearing Kindergarten teacher.
I love teaching, creating, and spreading happiness and positivity!
I’m so happy you stopped by my blog!
I am an educational presenter and consultant.
You can find me presenting at:
Please feel free to contact me at thetututeacher@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Day 20: Vera Ahiyya
by Kelly Starling Lyons | Posted on February 20, 2022
You may know her as The Tutu Teacher, a book influencer whose smile is as radiant as her book spotlights. Or maybe you’ve seen her viral video that has racked up more than 190,000 views on YouTube and been watched by millions, Let’s Talk About Race. Vera Ahiyya celebrates reading and spreads understanding with her Brooklyn kindergarteners and readers around the country.
“As a child, I devoured books,” she shared in a Scholastic article titled Cool Teacher. “Yet, I can barely recall ‘seeing’ myself in those books. After hearing Rudine Sims Bishop’s quote about books being windows and mirrors, I knew that providing those experiences would be of the utmost importance.”
Named The Tutu Teacher because of her affinity for wearing colorful tutus, Vera’s first picture book, You Have a Voice, debuted in January. Lucky for us, she has more books on the way. We salute her for using her gifts to celebrate diverse reads and the power children have to change the world.
We are proud to feature Vera Ahiyya on Day 20:
I am so excited to announce that I am participating in The Brown Bookshelf’s 28 Day Later Campaign.
This campaign highlights authors and illustrators of color.
2022 is a year of many firsts for me.
It is the year I started my journey as an author. In January my first children’s book, You Have A Voice debuted. This is a story that celebrates the power every child naturally holds in using their voice to make change for good and empowers both kids and grown-ups to use their voice.
In March, my first Professional Development book will be released. It’s titled: Rebellious Read Alouds and is a guide to spark meaningful conversations about race, identity, and social justice in your classroom using read alouds as an entry point.
Students need to see themselves and their peers in the books they read, and to engage with varying viewpoints. How can educators create a safe and nurturing space that inspires young children to explore diversity and ask curious questions?
Finally, in June my book KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day debuts. KINDergarten is a story about, a class that creates a kindness pledge to ensure that their class is the kindest it can possibly be.
It’s the first day of Kindergarten and Leo isn’t at all ready. Leo is a quiet kid and would prefer to stay home. Over the summer, his new teacher, Ms. Perry sent a letter asking her students to think about how to show kindness in school. She explained that they would be making a kindness pledge, and each student should bring one way to show kindness on the first day.
As it turns out, Leo’s classmates have lots of ideas about kindness: like raising your hand, never leaving anyone out, and apologizing if you hurt someone’s feelings. At the end of the first day, Ms. Perry asks if anyone witnessed something they’d like her to add to the kindness pledge? Lots of hands shoot up in the air. Several classmates say they noticed Leo returning crayons to the box, holding the door for everyone, and helping a friend who fell. Leo smiles as he realizes he really does know a lot about kindness after all.
Thanks for following along on my author journey! Here’s hoping for more to come!
Visit Vera’s blog at https://thetututeacher.com/.
Follow her at Twitter and Instagram @thetututeacher.
Ahiyya, Vera LOOK HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN KINDERGARTEN Random House Studio (Children's None) $18.99 3, 5 ISBN: 9780593643969
Everything grows better with a little help.
Mason doesn't want to attend school anymore because there are things she can't do and everyone else seems to do everything right. Mom encourages her to discuss these concerns with her teacher the next morning. Mason does, and at school, Ms. Perry thanks her for articulating her feelings. Later, Ms. Perry announces that, since today's the first day of spring, the class's morning meeting will focus on growth. She tells the class that everyone's growing and changing in myriad ways. Next day, Ms. Perry displays a chart on which she invites students to indicate ways they'd like to grow. Ms. Perry encourages Mason to reflect on how much she's growing--she knows the letters in her own name, for instance, and is "growing to be a reader"--and provides tools to help Mason learn to tie her own shoelaces. Mason begins to realize that some classmates also need help learning a few things. On the last day of school, Ms. Perry reminds everyone it's always OK to request help in order to grow. This is a rather bland story, but it should reassure youngsters who feel doubtful about their ability to learn new skills. The colorful digital illustrations depict a multiracial cast of characters in a lively, active classroom setting. Mason, her mom, and Ms. Perry have skin in various shades of brown.
A valuable reminder that learning and growing take time, practice, and patience. (how to write a thank-you card, author's note, tips for fostering a growth mindset) (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Ahiyya, Vera: LOOK HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN KINDERGARTEN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777736750/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f2b2816b. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.
AHIYYA, Vera. Look How Much I've Grown in KINDergarten. illus. by Joey Chou. 40p. (A KINDergarten Book). Random House Studio. Mar. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593643969.
PreS-K--Mason doesn't want to go to school because she's worrying about the things she can't do: tie her shoes, draw a picture of her favorite flower, and know all the letter sounds. Her mother suggests they talk to Mason's teacher, Ms. Perry; the following day, Ms. Perry explains to the class, "Some growing can happen quickly, and some can take a long time." The students all share ways they'd like to grow, such as learning to ride a bike and making more friends. Mason says she wants to learn to tie her shoes and then proceeds to use the "shoe basket" with pictures and books to help her practice. The next morning, she walks into class with a huge smile and the teacher announces "You grew overnight! Some growing happens like that." A matter-of-fact narration, a teacher who thanks her students for sharing their fears, and a long but accessible text combines with Chou's vibrant digital spreads that seem ready to bust out of the borders. Mason, with light tan skin, green eyes, and dark reddish hair, wears her concerns on her face while she figures things out. The last spread features the happy looking class of children (diverse in physical appearance) in a garden on the last day of school, ready to move on to first grade. VERDICT A dose of comfort for the littlest learners feeling overwhelmed by all the skills they're working on, this might be a perfect book to pull out for kindergartners during the second half of the year when the books about starting school are a distant memory.--Carrie Voliva
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Voliva, Carrie. "AHIYYA, Vera. Look How Much I've Grown in KINDergarten." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 3, Mar. 2024, p. 69. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A786340621/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=be6ba705. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.
AHIYYA, Vera. KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day. illus. by Joey Chou. 40p. Random House Studio. Jun. 2022. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780593484623.
PreS-K--Leo, who likes to be quiet, is worried about starting kindergarten. He's learned that on his first day of school he will have to talk to the entire class about being kind. For the next few weeks before school begins, he shares his concerns with his dad, his grand-mommy, and even Tulip, his cat. When school begins, Ms. Perry, his teacher, eases his worries by introducing him to students who like the quiet activities he does, such as playing with chalk and blocks. Although he still feels his heart racing, Leo is able to contribute to a kindness pledge his class makes together. Readers will see easy, common activities (words and actions) they can mimic not only on their first day of school, but throughout the year and in different settings. Behaviors include saying "please" and "thank you," helping others, cleaning up, and saying, "I'm sorry." Cheerful illustrations depict a fun, interactive learning environment that will give children a sneak peek of what to expect from school. VERDICT This would be a wonderful book to read aloud on the first day of kindergarten so classes could create their own kindness pledge and then share it with others.--Tanya Boudreau
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Boudreau, Tanya. "AHIYYA, Vera. KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 8, Aug. 2022, p. 70. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711673758/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0353b3ed. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.
Ahiyya, Vera KINDERGARTEN Random House Studio (Children's None) $17.99 6, 21 ISBN: 978-0-593-48462-3
While shy Leo wants no part of sharing ways to be kind aloud with his new kindergarten class, that doesn't mean he isn't kind.
Leo enjoys quiet activities and time with his extended family, so it's only natural that he's nervous about starting school. Luckily, Leo has the perfect teacher. Not only does she greet Leo personally and offer to help him get through his nervousness, but she also sets him up with new friends who also prefer quiet activities. Still, Leo, who wears a zipped-up jacket with the hood up, attempts to blend in and hopes Ms. Perry won't call on him to contribute ideas to the Kindness Pledge the class is working on. But Leo and his kindness are certainly not invisible to his new classmates, who specifically call out the many ways he has been kind during the day. Suddenly, Leo feels ready for this new adventure called kindergarten, and his now-unzipped jacket and bare head reflect that confidence. The digitally painted illustrations are full of bright colors and familiar school scenes. An author's note describes how to use the Kindness Pledge in classrooms, when it may be especially helpful, and reminds readers that it's also important to be kind to yourself. Leo, his family, and Ms. Perry are brown-skinned, and Leo's classmates are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Will help alleviate fears and start kids thinking about ways to create their own KINDergartens. (Kindness Pledge poster) (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Ahiyya, Vera: KINDERGARTEN." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A706932815/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b2462f96. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.
KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
Vera Ahiyya, illus. by Joey Chou. Random House Studio, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-48462-3
Teacher and social media influencer Ahiyya tunes into her upbeat, proactively compassionate vibe in this story of an introverted kin-dergartner tenderly guided through an uncertain first day by a teacher devoted to the power of kindness. When "quiet" student Leo, portrayed with light brown skin, is greeted by his Black-cued teacher Ms. Perry, who asks if he's ready for his first day, he whispers, "I'm not sure." But Ms. Perry reassures him and introduces him to a new friend before inviting the entire class to join in creating a Kindness Pledge, writing down the things they'll do to "make our kindergarten classroom a KINDergarten." Though Leo's reserve continues, the class garners a sizable list by the end of the day, including some entries that take Leo by surprise--and make him feel more confident about coming back for day two, just as he is. A diverse class of children engages in lively discussions as they tour the school, head outdoors for recess, and draw pictures in Chou's energetic scenes, digitally painted in vivid hues. A Kindness Pledge poster and author's note are included. Ages 4-8.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 49, 23 Nov. 2022, p. 24. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A728493737/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fbf15c46. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.