Our Class is a Family (The Classroom Community Collection)

Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.

With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, “Our Class is a Family” is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family.

“Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love you no matter what.” -Unknown

Shannon Olsen is the #1 best-selling author of 6 picture books, all geared toward building community and positive relationships at school:

Our Class is a Family, both A Letter From Your Teacher books (for the first day and last day of school), Our School is a Family, Collaboration Station, and We're So Happy You're Here: A Warm Welcome for our New Student.

Her first book made the #1 spot for children’s books on Publisher’s Weekly, and several of her titles have reached the overall Top 20 on the Amazon Charts.

Shannon earned her B.A. in English and M.A. in Teaching from the University of California Irvine, and is a wife and a mom of two girls.

Through her fifteen years of experience as a second grade teacher, she found a strong passion in creating books and materials for the classroom.

Shannon does in-person and virtual Author Visits with schools, and continues to share teaching ideas and resources through her elementary education company, Life Between Summers.