Several years ago, a family shared a post on Facebook about how they had secretly gotten each of their daughter’s teachers to sign a copy of Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go at the end of every school year as she was growing up. Then fast forward to her high school graduation, they gifted it to her. I thought this was so cool and filed the idea away for when Laney started school.
I too bought a copy of Oh the Places You’ll Go while Laney was daycare during my working days. When we made the decision for me to stay home, I had the ladies in Laney’s daycare room sign it. Then, the following year Laney started at her preschool in the toddler room. At the end of the year, I brought it in for her teachers to sign. It made me chuckle a little bit on the inside because the day that I brought mine in, I noticed that several other moms also had theirs (also the Dr. Seuss book) to do the same thing. Laney’s teachers wrote sweet, heartfelt notes on the page of their choice. Unfortunately due to the abrupt end to the school year last year with the pandemic, I wasn’t able to have Laney’s teachers sign it. Luckily, one of Laney’s teachers moved up to the 2 year old room with her class but I missed getting to have her assistant teacher sign it.
This reverse form of a year book to gift to our kids in the future has really caught on and become popular in recent years! For that reason, I wanted to share other options that can be used to create this sentimental gift without feeling like you’re doing the same thing as everyone else. I also knew that I wanted a different book for Morgan so that she didn’t feel like she was just getting the same thing by default. So now that we are only two weeks away from the last day of Morgan’s first year in preschool (in the toddler room where Laney started), it’s time that I figure out what book best fits her so that her teachers can sign it.
But what other books are out there with a similar message and sentiment to be used for this graduation gift in the making? I did some research and have compiled a list of 8 books (in no particular order) including the OG. Check them out below!
Oh the Places You’ll Go
This is the OG of where this all started and the book we have for Laney. I find it fitting for her though as she loves the other Dr. Seuss movies and books! “From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch,” Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and whimsical illustrations. It encourages readers to find the success that lies within, no matter what challenges they face. Definitely a favorite as I also loved Dr. Seuss as a kid.
I Wish You More
Some books are about a single wish or three wishes. This one however, is a positive, inspirational book with endless good wishes. Wishes for curiosity and wonder, for friendship and strength, laughter and peace. This one is perfect for celebrating milestones like the end of every school year as well as graduation.
Wherever You Go
This book is about a bunny whose journey takes him all over — from mountain peeks, down winding roads and through cities. It celebrate the possibilities that wait beyond the next bend in the road — the same road that will always lead you home again.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
This rhythmic rhyming book expresses all of the things parents think when they look at their children. This is a great option for this type of “gift in the making” as you dream of what may be one day each year you pull it out to be written in.
Journey
This book is different from the others as it is just pictures; there are no words. It is a story about a girl who has a red marker. And with that red marker she is able to create her life’s adventure or as the book is called, journey.
You!
This author is known for her whimsical font and fun illustrations. This book is exactly what you’d expect based on her others and has a rhyming structure. Here is an excerpt:
Life’s a big adventure
just waiting for you.
Give it all you’ve got,
there’s nothing
you can’t do!
Dream big
and remember to
follow you heart.
Believe in yourself
’cause you’re
really so smart.
You’re Here for a Reason
This book illustrates that you are special to this world and without you, it wouldn’t be the same. If you click on the picture of the cover, the link also shows you a few pages from the inside of the book. Here is an excerpt:
You’re here for a reason. If you think you’re not
I would just say that perhaps you forgot . . .
a piece of the world that is precious and dear would surely be missing if you weren’t here.
If not for your smile and your laugh and your heart
this place we call home would be minus a part.
Thank goodness you’re here!
Thank goodness times two!
I just can’t imagine a world without you.
Yay, You!
I love reading Sandra Boynton books with my girls! They are so silly and have color illustrations. Our personal favorite is Moo, Ba, La-La-La so when I saw an option by her that could work for this, I was so excited! The only thing to take into consideration is that it only comes as a board book so teachers would need to sign with a permanent marker.
Are you doing this with your kids or is it something you want to do when they start school?
For Morgan, I think I’ve narrowed it down between Wherever You Go and I Wish You More.
Which one is your favorite?
Psssttt… Have you gotten a School Memory Book?
Last year, I found this school memory book and bought one for both of my girls. I may or may not still need to start them, but I love how much room each “year” has to write down memories, log achievements and save any special items. But my favorite part about this one compared to others out there is that it has a spot for the 1st Day of School picture and the Last Day of School picture. Most just have a spot to put that year’s yearbook picture or something similar. I’ll definitely be updating them this summer and I know these will be fun for my girls to have to look back on when they’re older. My mom had one similar she did for me and I’ve enjoyed flipping through it over the years — old report cards, things I accomplished, silly things I said, etc. I highly recommend checking these out and getting one if you haven’t already. Both pictures are linked.
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