Book Review: Preschool Gems

In October, I wrote about my love of Preschool Gems, a Twitter feed run by Leslie McCollom that is both hilarious and heart-warming.

Now that things have started to calm down (*knock on wood*), I had the opportunity to read Leslie's book, which is a compilation of her best tweets. I have to say, reading her preschoolers' quotes in book format makes them even more adorable, if that's possible.

Leslie divides her book into sections, such as "Life's Not Fair," "Snack Time," and my personal favorite, "The Dark Side." Reading these treasures one right after the other caused me to laugh uncontrollably, gasping for air and coming back for more.

I also couldn't help but share my joy by calling out to my husband - "Hey, listen to this one!" Unfortunately, I said that every 10 seconds, so it probably would have been easier to just read it together.

Perhaps more than the tweets themselves, I was particularly moved by Leslie's introduction. She describes children (and what it's like to work with them) perfectly. As she puts it, they are in constant search of "instant gratification and pleasurable sensory experiences" (pg. ix), which, to be perfectly honest, can make them seem like little monsters. However, the more you look and listen, the more you recognize the depth of their compassion, creativity, and individuality.

Leslie started her Twitter feed as a way to preserve the precious gems her students gave her each day. I know the feeling well! Every day, I laugh with my kiddos as they say the most surprising things, but then quickly forget what they said, despite every attempt and promise to myself to remember. Here are some of my favorites from my own personal collection that found a way to stick in my brain:

• "Mrs. Rex, you are a vegetarian? So, if I touch you with meat will your skin burn?"
• "When I grow up, I want to be a lifeguard princess."
• "Sometimes, I think that odd numbers are boys and even numbers are girls."
• "Mrs. Rex. That's like T-Rex. But, you're not a dinosaur. You're a girl."

So, if you're having a bad day, try reading a little bit of Preschool Gems. I promise that you will laugh out loud and feel completely refreshed and rejuvenated in the process.

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Are you an author? Do you have a book that you would like me to review on my blog? If so, contact me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org. I'd be happy to check out your work and spread the word to my readers.