This post may contain affiliate links and ads. Read our disclosure policy here.
Dr Seuss Book Graduation Gift Tradition
Start this sweet tradition this year and after a few years, you will have the best graduation gift ever – that means more than just about any other thing you could give! Every Year Have Your Child’s Teachers Sign the Book “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss – Give It As a High School Graduation Gift!
If the thought of future milestones like your child’s high school graduation makes you weepy, grab a box of tissues and stick with me. 2 years ago as Lily wrapped up her very first year of preschool, a friend share this idea with me. I thought it was the sweetest thing, and as we say goodbye to Pre-K next week and look towards Kindergarten next year, I just dropped off our book for the third school year in a row.
(And update – I’m now starting at the final year of preschool for kid #2! WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? This is just crazy. Lily is nearing the end of elementary school and Landon starts Kindergarten next year. My mom heart is having a tough time with how fast time is passing!)
Heartfelt Graduation Gift!
The premise of the Dr. Seuss Book Graduation Gift is an easy one. The task of digging the book back out every May/June to take to school is a little bit more challenging, but so far, so good.
Purchase a copy of Dr. Seuss’s Oh the Places You’ll Go.
Each year as the school year comes to an end, give the book to your child’s teacher to sign/leave a short note somewhere in the book.
My goal is to have her teachers sign this same book every single year (and can include other important coaches, mentors, etc as needed). I will then gift the book to her at her high school graduation. (Which of course I don’t even want to THINK about because she’s only 5 and time already feels like it’s flying.) I am also considering giving it to her after her 5th grade graduation, which is a big deal in our district.
Updated pic several years later:
You Can Use A Different Book
Keep in mind, nothing says you HAVE to use this exact book. If there is another book that has special meaning to your family, feel free to change it up and use something other than the Dr. Seuss book. In the end, it’s not the book that really matters. It is the collection of special notes from some of the most important people in your child’s life. Have fun with this!
Video of me chit chatting about this tradition:
After you grab your copy of this book, check out these super sweet Last Day of School Tradition ideas!
PIN Dr. Seuss Book Graduation Gift Tradition TO PINTEREST!
More fun you might enjoy…
Please spare your child’s teacher from this obnoxious practice
Fortunately, my kids’ teachers have all been happy to sign their books. When I taught, I never minded signing my students’ books. I’m sorry you feel this way.
Maybe the teachers were outwardly happy, but imagine doing this for 33 students. Instead, how about each year, you as the parent write a note about how your child grew that year.
I do have a journal for each kid that I write notes in about different milestones like birthdays. I completely understand that teachers have a lot to do (I was a teacher). I still think this is a sweet tradition and if you plan well in advance, most teachers don’t mind jotting a sentence or two in a book. It doesn’t have to be a novel. It’s not really any different than signing a yearbook.
I have been doing this for my granddaughter for 5 years so far, and all of her teachers have been excited to pen an encouraging, sweet note to her! They have all said they wish they had thought of this idea for their own children!
agreed!
I second the feeling Ms. Lobenberg! As teachers we are already swamped with assessments multiple times a year and I already spend so much time writing thoughtful report card comments 3 times a year! This is one more task to burden a teacher with. It’s an awkward position to put a teacher in ….most of them will smile and take the book to sign but inwardly roll their eyes.
Well I’m sure it that’s how you feel about your job you wouldn’t have to worry about anyone asking you to sign their child’s book. No one is saying teachers aren’t over worked they are. I taught preschool But writing a few sentences in a child’s book should not be such a daunting task and if looked at as so, maybe you are in the wrong profession. It’s not like every kid in class will have a book to sign and all bring them the same day. Imagine some teachers actually give the gift idea to the parents for their children. Oh those inspiring ones who have more to do than complain who have a passion for children and investing in their lives.
Wow, I hope you aren’t a teacher. I used to love when teachers signed my yearbooks each year. When I was teaching pre-k I loved signing things and giving notes of encouragement to my students. There is enough negativity in this world. What’s so obnoxious about a person wanting their child to have a note from their teacher for future reference?
Yikes, obnoxious!! That’s a bit much. I think it’s cute. I started this after reading her post and the teachers love the idea. I started in 2018-2019 school year.
I think this is a GREAT idea!! I bought the book & am starting it with my son as well (he’s only 2 now)! It’s unfortunate for teachers who look down on this. You’d think they’d want to build their students up.
I’m a teacher. I do this for my children and I LOVE signing books when I have a parent ask. I have never had more than two in a year. If I had every child in my class bring one in, I would still love it!
I am in complete agreement with you. I love writing a little something for each child when a parent brings the book. And for those that don’t, I always write a short letter to them addressing their successes and special memories. I don’t mind at all.
As a teacher, I do have one suggestion…Think about how jam packed the end of the year is for a teacher. Just don’t wait until the last minute to give it to him/her to sign! With report card comments, yearbook signings, multiple books like this, and general wrapping up the end of the year stuff that people don’t realize we have to do, it will just add to the pressure for the teacher. I’m more than happy to keep up the tradition, but I’d want to have time to be thoughtful. (Heck, I have kids that I’ve written a thank you note to that come visit and talk about it, so I understand!) Just don’t overwhelm the teacher by waiting till the last few days or week!
What about middle school when they start having multiple teachers. Do you just have her favorite teacher sign it? Wondering about this for myself as this is my daughters first year in middle school and so far I’ve only had her fav teacher sign.
That’s exactly what I am going to do for middle and high school. I’ll just pick favorite teachers – maybe 1 or 2 teachers each year.. just the ones who she talks about a lot.
Thank you for that answer, I have been trying to figure out how to get my grandson’s book signed now that he is in middle school! Great idea!!
I send it with a note and ask that they pass it around to all the teachers on the note.
I’m glad you asked this question. I started this tradition for my granddaughters in preschool. One starts 6th grade in the Fall while the other will be in Kindergarten. I wasn’t sure if I should try for all teachers or just maybe a favorite and her coaches. Also so far all of their teachers have loved doing this. One even wrote me a note this year thanking me for doing it for my babies. I just make sure that I wait until after Spring break and way before the end of the school year. I drop them off at the front office with a note to each teacher and let them know that I will stop by in 3-4 days to pick them up so that they don’t have to feel rushed.
As a teacher I agree about this tradition being sweet, but irritating when it is dropped off at the end of the school year when we are overwhelmed with achievement reports, end of year paperwork and filing, etc. I always feel rushed when parents wait til the end, instead of maybe about a month before the end of school, when I feel I can be more thoughtful in my note.
Completely agree. I always try to get this dropped off a month or more before the year ends.
How do you get it to the teacher(s) to sign without the kids knowing? Particularly in junior high and high school?
So as a middle school teacher (who teaches 80 plus kids a year) we always end up with a stack of these to sign the last week. I’ll be really honest with you we always are super nice to the parents and smile and say we would love to. However, then we sit together at a table, sign them; and discuss how obnoxious it is. We do it and are glad the kid has a keepsake – but it is rather annoying.
I HATE, HATE, HATE when parents do this. As a veteran teacher (25 years), I have come to the conclusion that the parents do this so they can tell others how they are such great parents because they have this book for their child. I have never met a teacher who didn’t complain to coworkers when the request to write in the book is given. I usually Google to find a generic message to copy because I am busy planning lessons, remediation, or enrichment; doing paperwork from admin; looking over the homework to determine what a child needs next; grading; contacting parents regarding progress then documenting the conversation as my district requires; or any one of the hundreds more things that teaching requires and that parents and administrators ask of teachers. It would be lovely to tell some parents that I will write the truth in the book and their child was NOT a joy to have in class. Parents need to take into account that teachers do more than required for the children they teach and requests like this show NO respect to teachers and their time, whether it be personal or professional.
I take offense that a blogger would show so little respect to educators.
As a middle school teacher and coach, I LOVE getting these from students. How special for them to receive as a graduation gift. We are all busy, but we are in this for the kids. If you cannot find a heartfelt response, without looking something up, then maybe you should reconsider how you are reaching your students? If you don’t want to take the time, then just sign your name.
I do this for both of my children. My oldest is finishing middle school this year, and every single teacher he has ever had has been thrilled to sign the book. Obviously I give them advance notice and plenty of time, but I will say I am SO grateful to have such wonderful teachers at my sons’ schools, where their hearts are genuinely invested in their students. I’m so grateful that you don’t teach here, and I pity the children who have had to endure your cold heart.
I wonder how many students don’t like you as a teacher if you have that kind of attitude about them and their parents. They can tell when teachers don’t like them, you know. I get it, some students are difficult to work with, but if you feel this way about teaching in general, why did you even go in the field? After 25 years, it sounds like you need to retire and move to a retirement center.
Hello All!
I have a Senior & Freshman in HS this year and I have been following this book signing tradition for both since kindergarten- now I’m trying to figure out how to give to Senior after graduation and still keep a surprise for the other?!
I’m in a similar boat, and I’ve come to the conclusion that as the 2nd child, some things just aren’t able to be a surprise. I’m going to focus on the fact that, even though Son #2 can safely assume he, too, will get the same gift, the surprise is that his book is 100% unique and different from his brother’s. :) My oldest graduates in less than 6 weeks – each year I have taken (or gotten someone else to take) pictures of him with almost every teacher, admin, and staff member who have signed his book. Now to print & incorporate those pictures into the book as well! And knowing teachers are super busy, I make a point to circulate the book starting in late March/early April. For middle & high school with multiple teachers, I’ve been in luck to have a relationship w/the school nurse, who has secretly circulated it around for signatures for me! (Each year I’ve taped a routing slip to the cover – has worked well!) During Covid shutdown, I simply emailed teachers and asked if they could send me an email at their convenience, with a few sentences that I could print & add to the book. Now I’m getting nervous about finishing it up and giving it to him! Lol Definitely a 13+ year Labor of Love :)
Curious to know “how” you plan on giving it to him. I just finished having my sons book signed and he graduates in 3 weeks. I want to make the moment special but not sure how to go about doing this. I considered borrowing a blank book from the library and reading it together with him like we did when he was a child the morning of graduation. Once read read through the book, I’ll give him his copy with all the signatures. Not sure if I should write a note and include it in the book too.
Quick question … do you have all your child’s teachers sign or just his main teacher? Last year my son was in Kindergarten and I had all his teachers sign which included music, art, etc. This year he has the same music, art, etc. should I have those teachers sign again?
In elementary school, I ask just the homeroom teacher to sign. At some point during those years, I ask the specials teachers (music, art, gym, library) to sign the book, just once. 1 note per teacher per book is a good goal! :)
Wow. It’s def hard to hear some teachers hate this. I’ve been doing this for my kids. My oldest is finishing up middle school. I’ve always sent him with a stamped envelope that had a blank note card for his teacher to mail over the summer or they can hand it back that day. I also add a gift card as a thank you, mainly because Teachers Week is weeks before schools ends and I can’t afford to splurge on 6 teachers. So far, all his teachers have participated. They do get mailed back.
That’s a sweet idea! This year when I asked my son’s teacher if she would mind signing his book, she told me that she’d love to AND that she did the same thing for HER kids and loved how their books turned out. :)
I’ve been doing this every year for both of my kids and teachers have always been receptive to doing it. I’ve considered it’s yet another thing for them to do which I certainly am sympathetic too. Hopefully the gift card I stick in the envelope makes up for it.
Thank you for this idea! I love it :) I am starting it this year for my 3 year old who’s going to PreK-4 in the fall.
NO, THANK YOU. Please stop this. I’ve been teaching 19 years and yes, we all smile and participate but I 100% HATE this practice, and so do the other 30 teachers in my building. Do a Google search and see how many other teachers out there despise it. The problem really is that the parents are so entitled and are passing that along to their children. A poster in this thread said “it’s only 1 or 2 kids a year”, and that is the entitlement right there! Why would a teacher do special things for only selected children? It is also NOT the same as a yearbook that all students receive, this is a favor for chosen kids. A student requesting me to sign a yearbook, is completely different than being volun-told by a demanding parent. I strongly believe that I treat all of my students equally and fairly, so unless you are providing a book for the other 50 students who I teach, I would repeat “NO, THANK YOU”. Please take the $25 that you will spend on the book and teach your child to donate that money to help others, that is a much more meaningful lesson that a collection of obligated signatures. At graduation, do the kids even appreciate this? My sons would be horrified to know that I had snuck around “asking” their teachers to participate. Parents are crossing boundaries and turning a professional relationship into a personal one. OP, do you have a considerate way for me, as the teacher, to say “no thanks”, without offending the parent or child?