ALA Booklist (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

At the center of Estrella's school is an old oak tree locus for the children and their teacher to explore, learn, play, and share their thoughts and fears. The tree provides a comforting place for Estrella to be alone when she is sad about her father, who wasn't born in the U.S., being forced to return to his home country. Here Estrella can allow herself to miss him and think about the ways his absence changed their family. A teacher sees Estrella and, with the help of the all-­knowing oak, finds a way to invite her and the other students to share the things they wish the teacher knew. The cheerful colors mirror the warmth and playfulness in the scenes of the school community, representing hope, which is ultimately the message. The teacher and children come together through sharing and strengthen their connections to one another under the protection of the old oak tree. This meditation on social and emotional communication will prompt readers, old and young, to open up about their vulnerabilities.

Horn Book (Thu Oct 03 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

After a young girl's father is deported, she wishes that her teacher "knew that when I...sit alone at lunch / or cry over little things, / it's because / I miss him." Mora's warm mixed-media illustrations emphasize the girl's sadness and feeling of isolation until the focus shifts to the teacher's perspective. Thinking of her class as a whole, she "wish[es] they knew / that...they / are not / alone." And soon, they do. Sitting in a "sharing circle," the students write down worries (one child is "hungry a lot," another misses her military mom) and, if they wish, read them aloud. The sophisticated narrative structure effectively conveys the message that community can help us bear hard things. In her author's note, Kramer (The Boy and the Gorilla, rev. 3/21) shares her connection to the story.

Kirkus Reviews

A father's forced absence is keenly felt by a Latinx child.Shortly after planting sunflower seeds for his daughter's school, the father is deported. She wishes that her teacher knew how much life has changed for her family. The teacher, on the other hand, wishes her students were aware that "they / are not / alone." The 100-year-old oak tree at the center of the school is the sharing place where all students can reveal their secrets. As they feel increasingly comfortable opening up about their home lives, they come together and plant sunflower seeds in hopes that the girl's father will one day see them bloom. Kramer's homage to the "I Wish My Teacher Knew" movement draws attention to the many hardships children experience at home while still trying to succeed in school. The examples given are particularly poignant. Mora's soft, mixed-media illustrations reflect a diverse and dynamic classroom and sympathetically portray many of the challenges faced by children. Although it is presumed that the teacher is the initial focus of the titular statement, the shifting perspectives can make for awkward and murky transitions. Curiously, Kramer, who is half Puerto Rican, states in her author's note that Puerto Ricans are U.S. residents rather than citizens. A Spanish-language edition publishes simultaneously. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 14.8% of actual size.)For success in school, the importance of empathy and compassion can't be overstated. (Picture book. 4-7)

School Library Journal (Sat May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

K-Gr 3 Kramer's latest tells the story of Estrella, a young girl whose father was not born in the United States as she was. During the school year, he has to return to his home country and Estrella is left to deal with his absence. With a hardworking mother and a scared brother, Estrella is stressed out and wishes that others at her school understood what she was going through. Her teacher sets up sessions that allow her students to share "what I wish you knew" with her and their classmates, either anonymously or aloud. This gentle story embodies the social media movement ishMyTeacherKnew that has helped build community and strong school relationships across the country. An author's note describes her childhood, and the inspiration for this true story. Mora's soft watercolor illustrations depict a diverse student population. Estrella's memories of her father and experiences with her brother and mother after her father leaves are duller grays, conveying a sadder mood. VERDICT Estrella and her classmates' experiences are all too common and children will relate, if not for themselves, for others, to this compassionate recommended purchase. Sara Thomas, New Castle P.L., DE