This morning, I had the delightful opportunity to visit a local preschool and read The Napping Tent to several classes. As part of the class practice, I was asked to wash my hands before entering each classroom—something the germaphobe in me secretly loved. Stepping into that classroom, I was quickly reminded just how honest and surprising young children can be. Before I even opened the book, a little boy looked up at me and said, “You’re beautiful.” Perhaps I reminded him of his grandmother. Then, a girl eagerly shared that when she was three, she saw a 205-pound alligator!

Once I started reading, the class sat quietly, their attention wrapped around the story. Afterward, we had a lively discussion about what they would bring into their own napping tents. Their answers were both charming and unexpected; some mentioned toys I’d never heard of, while others offered heartfelt responses. One little boy said he would bring his baby brother. Moments like these remind me why I love sharing stories with children.

As I finished, several of the kids excitedly asked if they could give me a hug. The teacher gently reminded them, “We don’t hug strangers,” but quickly suggested an alternative: they could all give me a high-five instead. Suddenly, I was surrounded by a sea of tiny hands, each eager for a celebratory high-five. It was a wonderful moment of connection and joy.

The teacher then engaged her pre-kindergarten class in a discussion about the story. “Who was the main character of the book?” she asked. Instantly, the children replied in unison: “Henry!” She continued, “What was the setting of the book? Was it inside or outside?” Most of the class agreed that the story took place inside, but one observant boy raised his hand and pointed out that there was a part where Henry played outside with his Pops. I was truly impressed. When did we start teaching four-year-olds about literary concepts like character and setting?

I left the preschool feeling amazed and inspired. I’ll admit, I sometimes worry about the state of our education system; it’s easy to feel discouraged by what we hear and read. But being in that classroom, surrounded by curious, thoughtful children and caring teachers, reminded me that there is so much good happening, too. What if we nurtured a world of readers and eager learners who listen, think, and wait their turn to share? Experiences like this give me hope that it is possible.