Imagine walking into school and finding out every single teacher has just vanished. That's the wild setup of C.M. Harris's The Day There Were No Teachers, where Room 143 turns into an absolute free-for-all. Honestly, who wouldn't want that? No homework, no rules, and total freedom. But reality hits fast when a bizarre crew of animal substitutes takes over. You've got a kangaroo speeding through math, a parrot screaming spelling words, a sloth taking forever to read a single sentence, and a giraffe painting way up high where nobody else can reach. Everything quickly spirals from hilarious to overwhelming as the kids realize lessons are either too fast, too loud, too slow, or completely out of reach. It's a fun ride that shows why a teacher's steady hand is what holds a classroom together.

Unlike many books for kids that only show a glossy or superficial version of school, The Day There Were No Teachers treats its young readers like real partners in reflection and appreciation. Instead of watering down the everyday value of educators, C.M. Harris shares laugh-out-loud humor alongside the genuine, often overlooked effort it takes to keep a classroom running smoothly and to calm the chaos. Jecoe Firmalan's artwork really brings that chaotic energy to life, packing every page with fun, colorful details that make the whole classroom meltdown feel totally believable. At the end of the day, this book is way more than just a funny story about a crazy school day; it's a sweet, meaningful tribute that will make kids truly appreciate the teachers who help them out every single day.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if your teacher didn’t show up? Or, to make things more complicated, there were no teachers or principals or even adults, for that matter, in the school at all? In C M Harris’s The Day There Were No Teachers, that’s exactly what happened when the children arrived at school one day. At first they thought they’d have a free day full of fun and no homework. Then in bounced a kangaroo all ready to teach math, one hop at a time. A parrot came next to teach spelling and then a sloth to teach reading, which was way too slow for anyone to stay awake and listen. They thought the day would never end. Would their teachers ever come back?

C M Harris’s picture book, The Day There Were No Teachers: A Classroom Gone Wild―and a Celebration of the Teachers Who Keep It Together, is a funny look at what might happen if the teachers didn’t show up to teach. Told in simple language so young readers (and even a sloth or two) can easily follow along and improve their reading skills, the plot follows a progression of animals teaching various subjects and the growing frustration among the students. The illustrations by Jecoe Firmalan are bright, bold, and colorful and full of life and energy, adding to the growing humor and frustration as the school day gets progressively more difficult. This is a great learning tool that helps young readers appreciate their educators and all they do for students. A fun and somewhat educational read, with a good message.