After full careers in climate science in Washington DC, Dian and her husband Steve are planning their next chapter of life and decide to teach English as a second language. This book is a series of essays covering their entire adventure... Applying, hoping, learning that they'll be teaching kindergartners!, exploring Thailand on weekends, returning to the US only to be engulfed in the COVID crisis...

This was a gentle read with short chapters, and provided insight into Thai culture, teaching abroad, and the second half of life.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read. I retired from teaching kindergarten after 38 years and am in my 60s. When I read the description I know I needed to read. I love the descriptions that the author gives of the children in her care, describing their little characters so that I had clear pictures of them. I found myself who doesn't do "change" well if I would have been brave enough to move to a different country to begin teaching again. I enjoyed this and will recommend to my "teacher" friends to read.

This is not a book about a sixty-year-old person starting kindergarten, as the title might immediately make one think. This is the story of a couple in their sixties who want to teach and travel after their retirement and choose Thailand because of fond memories of having travelled there when they first got married.
It is a simple narrative, something that they managed to do just at the beginning of COVID and that rears its head as well during the telling of their experience.
The duo initially wanted to teach older children English and live in a place that was close to the main cities but not exactly in them. The only option that lets them both work and live together is at a kindergarten level, and that is an experience in itself.
We hear of their day-to-day activities, the trials and efforts they put in. The country and its quirks show up in between. The author and her husband have a good experience overall and learn new things while trying some new things (and staying with known safe things the other times).
The writing works for the kind of story it is. I have picked up a couple of such books in the past couple of years and like the change it brings to overall reads.
I would recommend this book to people who like to read personal non-fiction set in unique locations and/or situations.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Both of my parents were teachers (both now retired) and I even taught for several years so of course I was curious when I came across Kindergarten at 60. While I know many who have taught overseas, I don't know anyone to choose to do so at 60! Most are ready to settle down and retire so I couldn't wait to enjoy reading about this couple's new adventure (especially kindergarten!). This book made me laugh, made me think, it opened my eyes to quite a bit and I truly enjoyed reading this wonderful book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Apprentice House Press for providing me with an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This memoir was really inspiring and opened my eyes to the opportunities that I could have later in my life. I wish I could give this a perfect rating, however, I struggled with Seidel's writing style which made it difficult for me to truly enjoy reading this book.

Dian and Steve Seidel want to travel the world as English teachers. They end up receiving an offer to teach in a kindergarten in Thailand. Here, they face challenges like rambunctious children, sweltering heat, and young co-workers.
I did enjoy Seidel's engaging storytelling style. She shares lots of fun tidbits about life in Thailand. The author and her husband are upper class, though, and their privilege shines through in this book. However, I admire their desire to serve and willingness to do whatever they were assigned at the school.
I might start using the phrase mai pen rai - no problem, it’s fine, sums up the Thai approach to life that there’s no need to fret about anything because there’s not much you can do to change things anyway.

I wanted to read this book as someone who is both in a long-distance relationship with Thailand (meaning I've always wanted to visit, but haven't had the chance), and as someone who taught English in Korea. I really enjoyed the book on both accounts, though I would have enjoyed learning more about Thailand. I love the way the book was organized in that it seemed more a book of short stories rather than a cohesive day-by-day memoir. It felt more like a friend telling you a bunch of stories about their adventures, I definitely could have done without the graphics between chapters and the formatting could have been a little cleaner, but overall it was a really good book.

A really enjoyable retirement story an older couple seeks adventure they head off to Thailand to teach.Their adventures their story is fun honest open a really enjoyable read.#netgalley#apprenticehousepress

An insightful and unexpectedly moving book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I was excited to read this memoir once I read the summary. While it did touch on things I expected, like difficult students and adjusting to new routines, something was still missing.

It had a slow start, as Seidel explained all the steps she and her husband had to take in order to reach their goal. Once they were in Thailand and interacting with their students my interest in reading this book was piqued (like 40% into the book).

It did read a bit more like presumptions from the author rather than understanding of the people surrounding her; there were a lot of inner dialogues and questions that I wished were answered rather than just brushed off.

I did appreciate Seidel's honesty and self-awareness.

Thank you, Netgalley and Apprentice House Press, for the advanced reader copy.

I was drawn to this title from the synopsis and cover, I am a sucker for unorthodox retirement stories and hopeful second acts. "Kindergarten at 60" is an well-written account of a very specific time and adventure in the life of one couple, and an interesting travel memoir. Recommended for readers who enjoy these genres, or who are looking for inspiration to try something new! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. #Kindergartenat60 #NetGalley

This was an enjoyable read and I commend "Teacher Dian" and "Teacher Steve" for making this part of their journey! Knowing a few people who have travelled to teach ESL this was a great insight to some of the trials and tribulations that they would have faced.

Thank you to Netgalley and Apprentice House Press for this advanced reader copy.

This review is now posted in the following locations:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/81068089-kindergarten-at-60

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpm_cHQr6tv/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/87d86d4b-87aa-4be4-9d11-14d037376a56

Dian Seidel and her husband decide to embark on a foreign adventure to celebrate their early retirement. After working in the environmental field for years, they decide switch gears and teach English hoping to get adult or high school students. Because of their advanced age, the opportunities are limited but they settle on a program in Thailand. Instead of high schoolers, they are assigned to a kindergarten which has children aged two to six years old. I enjoyed this because it was a novel idea. When I retired from teaching, I never would have considered going to a foreign country and living in a small apartment. Seidel does a very good job of describing her challenges and triumphs in the classroom as well as their travels around Southeast Asia. She sometimes got a bit bogged down in details but overall this was a cozy, enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book! It's the story of a 60 something professional couple who retired and were searching for the next chapter in their life. They chose to become teachers in a foreign country. In a surprise to both of them, they found themselves teaching Kindergarten in Thailand!
In the interest of full disclosure, my wife and I are of the same age, and are pondering a similar path. AND one of our foreign exchange daughters is from Thailand. So this book came about at a very appropriate time.
The author does a great job of explaining the entire process. And of what she found in Thailand, what she liked, and some things she did not like. She covers the culture, the food, the living conditions, the Thai education system, and touches on the political side of Thailand.
Through all of this, she threads together an easily readable, thoughtful, and fascinating story. I honestly read it in three nights after work, finding it very hard to put down!
I'm not sure if this is what the future holds for my spouse and I, but I think that I am much more prepared to make a decision after reading this.
Excellent book. Highly recommend!

This was a great read that followed an older couple on a journey to teach in Thailand. It was raw and honest, capturing emotions and feelings perfectly. I enjoyed learning about Thailand customs along the way.