Thank You, Mr. Falker

Little Trisha is overjoyed at the thought of starting school and learning how to read. But when she looks at a book, all the letters and numbers just get jumbled up. Her classmates make matters worse by calling her ?dummy.' Only Mr. Falker, a stylish, fun-loving new teacher, recognizes Trisha's incredible artistic ability'and her problem, and takes the time to lead her finally and happily to the magic of reading. This autobiographical story is close to author Patricia Polacco's heart. It is her personal song of thanks to teachers like Mr. Falker, who quietly but surely change the lives of the children they teach. Patricia Polacco lives in Union City, MI.

Patricia Polacco, a consummate weaver and illustrator of warm and poignant tales, frequently dips into her own family's story bag for her stories. This time, she tells an autobiographical tale, the story she knows best and one she has shared with audiences of teachers all over the country. It is the story of how she learned to read. And it is the tale of her "hero," a teacher who in real life "unlocked the door and pulled [her] into the light." In finishing the story, Ms. Polacco said, "Maybe the children who read this book will remember to say thank you to all those teachers they have loved." Maybe they will. Patricia Polacco is also the author of Pink and Say, Rechenka's Eggs, Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair, and many other great books. She lives in Michigan, not far from her grandparents' farm.