| Patricia Polacco |
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Patricia Polacco (b. July 11 1944 , Lansing, Michigan ) is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children. Although she struggled in school and was unable to read until age 14 due to Dyslexia , she found relief by expressing herself through art. Polacco endured teasing and hid her disability until a schoolteacher recognized that she could not read and began to help her. '' Thank You, Mr. Falker '' is Polacco's retelling of this encounter and its outcome. EARLY YEARS The early years of Polacco's childhood were spent at her grandmother's farm in Union City, Michigan , the setting for many of her published stories. The farm, originally called ''The Plantation'' was established in 1859 and was part of the Underground Railroad . President Lincoln actually visited the home during his presidency. The Polacco Farm A meteorite that fell into the front yard of that farm is now used as their family's headstone. Although Polacco's grandmother died in 1949, when Polacco was only 5, "babushka," or grandmother, nevertheless appears in several of Polacco's books. Who Is Patricia Polacco? After her grandmother's death, the family moved to environment of Oakland, CA , and summers with their father and his parents on a farm in Michigan. Polacco had a very difficult time in school and did not learn to read until she was nearly fourteen. In junior high school, one of her teachers finally discovered that Dyslexia was the reason for her difficulties. Polacco wrote "When Lightning comes in a jar" as a tribute to her babushka, and her Detroit tiger cousin Billy Polacco. ADULT LIFE After completing high school, Polacco attended several colleges in Oakland, California, including s and other art pieces. Polacco married and began a family, parenting two children, Steve and Traci. At the age of 41, Polacco began writing and illustrating personal books for her children. A few of these are ''A Christmas Delivery for Traci and Steve'' and ''A Special Christmas''. Many Polacco works were inspired by stories told by her grandparents. She attributes her writing talent to her family's love of storytelling, and she began her writing career because she wanted to record some of the stories told to her by her grandparents. Polacco's mother's family were Russian Jews from Ukraine , while her father's family were Irish , and this multicultural heritage is evident in many of her stories and illustrations. Polacco has been inspired by other illustrators as well as authors of books she read as a child. Beatrix Potter 's Peter Rabbit was one of her favorites, as well as '' The Tall Book Of Mother Goose '' by Feodor Rojankovsky . One of her greatest artistic heroes was Norman Rockwell . Some of Polacco's modern day heroes are fellow illustrators and authors. Among them are Jerry Pinkney , Tomie DePaola , Rafe Martin , and Jan Brett , as well as many others. TODAY Following the 40-year absence from the home of her youth, Polacco returned to Union City, where she currently resides. Her home is often opened up to the public for writing seminars and children's literature festivals. Polacco does all of her own illustrations, and since she does not own a computer, responds to all letters with a hand-written reply. Whenever Polacco speaks with children, her advice is always the same: "Turn off the TV and LISTEN...LISTEN...LISTEN." Who Is Patricia Polacco? Trivia: Patricia Polacco used to babysit Tom Hanks BOOKS
OTHER MEDIA
LITERARY AWARDS
:1990 ''Babushka’s Doll'' :1992 ''Chicken Sunday'' (Nov. 14th 1992 declared ''Chicken Sunday'')
:1991 ''Some Birthday'' :1997 Video/''Dream Keeper'' :1998 ''Thank You, Mr. Falker''
ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT POLACCO
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