Patricia PollacoPatricia Pollaco

““Honey is sweet, "and so is Honey is sweet, "and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book.”through the pages of a book.”

~Family Background~~Family Background~

Patricia Polacco grew up hearing Patricia Polacco grew up hearing family stories from her Ukrainian family stories from her Ukrainian grandmother. In the absence of grandmother. In the absence of the television Polacco’s the television Polacco’s “Babushka” her grandma told “Babushka” her grandma told several tales in front of the several tales in front of the fireplace. fireplace.

~Family ~Family Background~Background~ Polacco wished to continue with Polacco wished to continue with

oral tradition, so she retold these oral tradition, so she retold these stories to her own children. In stories to her own children. In fact, it wasn’t until Polacco was fact, it wasn’t until Polacco was 41 that she started to write down 41 that she started to write down this family history and illustrate it. this family history and illustrate it.

She was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944.She was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944.

She lived on a farm with her mom and She lived on a farm with her mom and grandparents until 1949, when her grandma grandparents until 1949, when her grandma died and they moved away from Michigan. died and they moved away from Michigan.

““I must say that living on that little farm was I must say that living on that little farm was the most magical time of my life…and that the most magical time of my life…and that my Babushka and other grandparents were my Babushka and other grandparents were some of the most inspirational people in my some of the most inspirational people in my life” Polacco said. life” Polacco said.

ChildhoodChildhood

Her parents divorced when she was 3.Her parents divorced when she was 3.

Polacco spent the school year with her Polacco spent the school year with her mom, and the summers with her dad. mom, and the summers with her dad. She said:" In both households I was She said:" In both households I was the apple of my grandparents’ eyes!”.the apple of my grandparents’ eyes!”.

In 1949 her family moved to Florida and In 1949 her family moved to Florida and lived there for almost 3 years. Then they lived there for almost 3 years. Then they moved to Oakland, California where she moved to Oakland, California where she remained for most of her young remained for most of her young adulthood. adulthood.

They lived on Ocean View Drive. Polacco They lived on Ocean View Drive. Polacco loved the neighborhood because it came loved the neighborhood because it came in as many colors, ideas, and religions as in as many colors, ideas, and religions as there are people on the planet. “How there are people on the planet. “How lucky I was to know so many people that lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet much alike”! were so different and yet much alike”!

Elementary School Elementary School Experience.Experience.

In elementary school she wasn’t a very good student, In elementary school she wasn’t a very good student, she had a terrible time with reading and math. And she had a terrible time with reading and math. And didn’t learn how to read until 14 years old. didn’t learn how to read until 14 years old.

She didn’t like school because there was this boy that She didn’t like school because there was this boy that teased her and made her feel dumb.teased her and made her feel dumb.

At 14 it was learned that she had dyslexia. At 14 it was learned that she had dyslexia. That was when one of her hero’s, her teacher, found That was when one of her hero’s, her teacher, found

what was wrong with her and got her the help she what was wrong with her and got her the help she needed to succeed. Hence the writing of needed to succeed. Hence the writing of Thank You Mr. Thank You Mr. Falker.Falker.

She realized a learning disability only means you cannot She realized a learning disability only means you cannot learn the way most people do, and that disabled learn the way most people do, and that disabled children are actually GENIUSES! Once she had learned children are actually GENIUSES! Once she had learned how to read she caught up with the rest of her how to read she caught up with the rest of her classmates and did very well. classmates and did very well.

Higher EducationHigher Education

Polacco went to University, majored in Fine Arts, then Polacco went to University, majored in Fine Arts, then went on to pursue a graduate degree and ended up went on to pursue a graduate degree and ended up with a Ph.D. in Art History. with a Ph.D. in Art History.

For a while she restored ancient pieces of art for For a while she restored ancient pieces of art for museums. museums.

The became a mother of two and devoted much of her The became a mother of two and devoted much of her time to their education time to their education

Children’s Books Children’s Books writing.writing. Polacco didn’t start writing children’s books until she was Polacco didn’t start writing children’s books until she was

41. 41. The “art” has always been present in most of her life. The “art” has always been present in most of her life.

One of her symptoms of her disability in academics is the One of her symptoms of her disability in academics is the ability to draw very, very well!ability to draw very, very well!

Drawing, painting and sculpture has always been part of Drawing, painting and sculpture has always been part of her life even before she started illustrating her books. her life even before she started illustrating her books.

The books were quite surprise, she came from a family of The books were quite surprise, she came from a family of incredible storytellers. Her mom was Ukrainian Jewish incredible storytellers. Her mom was Ukrainian Jewish and dad of Irish descent. Her extended family, and dad of Irish descent. Her extended family, (Stewart’s family) were from the bayous of Louisiana…(Stewart’s family) were from the bayous of Louisiana…also great story tellers. also great story tellers.

““When you are raised on HEARING stories…NOT SEEING When you are raised on HEARING stories…NOT SEEING THEM, you become very good at telling stories yourself. THEM, you become very good at telling stories yourself. So, at the age of 41 she started to put them together and So, at the age of 41 she started to put them together and on paper and did drawings to help illustrating them…on paper and did drawings to help illustrating them…

CareerCareer

She enjoyed a wonderful career of writing books for She enjoyed a wonderful career of writing books for children. children.

Her list of books is indeed a long one so we will only Her list of books is indeed a long one so we will only mention the most famous ones including: mention the most famous ones including:

Thank You Mr. Falker, The Keeping Quilt, Chicken Thank You Mr. Falker, The Keeping Quilt, Chicken Sunday, Thunder Cake, Just in Time, The Junk Yard Sunday, Thunder Cake, Just in Time, The Junk Yard Wonders, Ginger and Petunia, “G” Is for Goat, Emma Wonders, Ginger and Petunia, “G” Is for Goat, Emma Kate, In Our Mother’s House, Mommies Say SHHH!, Kate, In Our Mother’s House, Mommies Say SHHH!, Family goes camping, The Orange for Frankie, Betty Family goes camping, The Orange for Frankie, Betty Doll, Rechenka’s eggs, Meteor! etc etc. Doll, Rechenka’s eggs, Meteor! etc etc.

What some of her What some of her Books are about . . . Books are about . . .

-Just in Time Abraham LincolnJust in Time Abraham Lincoln

-Emma Kate-Emma Kate

-When Lightning Comes in a Jar-When Lightning Comes in a Jar

-In our Mother’s House -In our Mother’s House

InspirationsInspirations

Her grandparents were one of her biggest inspirations. Her grandparents were one of her biggest inspirations.

One book that truly inspired her is One book that truly inspired her is The Tall Mother The Tall Mother Goose,Goose, by Fedor Rojankovsky. by Fedor Rojankovsky.

She values the illustrations and storylines. She values the illustrations and storylines.

Other books inspired her such as Grim's Fairy Tales, Other books inspired her such as Grim's Fairy Tales, The Calico Jungle, by D.Ipcar. The Calico Jungle, by D.Ipcar.

Creating booklets and Creating booklets and presentations presentations

This presentation would be used in This presentation would be used in 44thth grade classroom. First, students grade classroom. First, students would learn about creating an author would learn about creating an author study and learn about Patricia study and learn about Patricia Polacco. At the end of a unit study Polacco. At the end of a unit study students would be doing an author students would be doing an author study by creating their own booklet study by creating their own booklet presentations. presentations.