Comments on: Top 100 Picture Books #53: Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/25/top-100-picture-books-53-thank-you-mr-falker-by-patricia-polacco/ A School Library Journal Blog Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Ben Collinsworth http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/25/top-100-picture-books-53-thank-you-mr-falker-by-patricia-polacco/#comment-777821 Ben Collinsworth Wed, 30 May 2012 00:21:47 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/?p=13149#comment-777821 Last fall our literacy teacher did an author study of sorts with Patricia Polacco. My classmates and I were paired up and given books to read and present on in our choice from a list of formats. My partner and I were given Thank You, Mr. Falker. It was an apt selection because we'd already discussed in other classes that for me, learning to read was smooth and enjoyable, while for my partner it was neither. Knowing the subject matter, she told me that she would start by reading the book to me but would make me take over when she teared up. It happened on Mr. Falker's line "You poor baby, you think you're dumb." It was clear that she was remembering her own trauma as a dyslexic student. Recognizing the swell in her voice, I took hold of the pages and read on. But then, Trisha learned to read. Her world broke open and she was at last re-connected with the gifts of her beloved grandparents. So there we both were, sobbing. Then laughing. Our reading gave way to a discussion of how significant literacy is, and how significant its absence. It had been a long time since a picture book had touched me so deeply. I'll remember this one for a long long time. Last fall our literacy teacher did an author study of sorts with Patricia Polacco. My classmates and I were paired up and given books to read and present on in our choice from a list of formats. My partner and I were given Thank You, Mr. Falker. It was an apt selection because we’d already discussed in other classes that for me, learning to read was smooth and enjoyable, while for my partner it was neither. Knowing the subject matter, she told me that she would start by reading the book to me but would make me take over when she teared up. It happened on Mr. Falker’s line “You poor baby, you think you’re dumb.” It was clear that she was remembering her own trauma as a dyslexic student. Recognizing the swell in her voice, I took hold of the pages and read on. But then, Trisha learned to read. Her world broke open and she was at last re-connected with the gifts of her beloved grandparents. So there we both were, sobbing. Then laughing. Our reading gave way to a discussion of how significant literacy is, and how significant its absence. It had been a long time since a picture book had touched me so deeply. I’ll remember this one for a long long time.

]]> By: DaNae http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/25/top-100-picture-books-53-thank-you-mr-falker-by-patricia-polacco/#comment-773113 DaNae Fri, 25 May 2012 11:03:29 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/?p=13149#comment-773113 As a former, and sometimes present, struggling reader this book shattered me with its heart. At the moment, Polacco fills me. Our district had a challenge on OUR MOTHERS' HOUSE. The district sided with the parents, due more to a state law than in agreement with the myopic and bigoted challenge. Even though the challenge was not at my school I've been told I had to keep the book behind my desk. At the moment it IS behind my desk - on full display for all who approach. Sorry, off topic, but as I said, its a situation that is keeping me up nights. As a former, and sometimes present, struggling reader this book shattered me with its heart.

At the moment, Polacco fills me. Our district had a challenge on OUR MOTHERS’ HOUSE. The district sided with the parents, due more to a state law than in agreement with the myopic and bigoted challenge. Even though the challenge was not at my school I’ve been told I had to keep the book behind my desk. At the moment it IS behind my desk – on full display for all who approach.

Sorry, off topic, but as I said, its a situation that is keeping me up nights.

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