This paper is based on the belief that a prerequisite to literacy education and to all teaching is accepting and caring about the students. Eighteen education students' responses to two children's books, "Chevrolet Saturdays" and "My Name is Maria Isabel," were compiled. From the comments, the following attributes were identified as being important for successful relationships between teachers and students: warmth, credibility, high expectations for success, and an encouraging and supportive attitude. Recommendations are: (1) education students should be screened for the above attributes before admission; (2) students should be exposed to these attributes in every education course; and (3) students' progress in developing these attributes should be continuously monitored. (EF)