32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny: Life Lessons from Teaching (A Gift for Teachers)

Phil Done fixes staplers that won’t staple, zippers that won’t staple, and pokes pins in the caps of glue bottles that will not pour. He has sung “Happy Birthday” 657 times. A witness to the joys of learning, Done inspires readers with the everyday adventures and milestones of his 32 third graders in this irresistible collection of bite-sized essays.

From the nervous first day of school to the hectic Halloween parade to the disastrous spring musical, Done connects what happens in his classroom to the universal truths that touch us all. 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny is for anyone who has ever taught children—or been to third grade. It is a testament to the kids who uplift us and the teachers who make a difference. With the perfect mix of humor and wisdom, Done reveals the enduring promise of elementary school as a powerful antidote to the cynicism of our times.

Phillip Done taught elementary school for thirty-three years and was the recipient of the prestigious Charles Schwab Distinguished Teacher Award, a Teacher of the Year in California, and a nominee for Disney’s American Teacher Award. He has taught in public and private schools in the United States and internationally. He has also served as an educational consultant around the world. Additionally, Done has worked as an on-set teacher for child actors in television and film. Done’s writing about education has appeared in Real Simple, Instructor, Parent, NEA Today, and Reader’s Digest. He lives in Europe with his family.