Author: Patricia Polacco
Illustrator: Patricia Polacco
Genre: Non-fiction, Special Needs Topic
Awards: ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award (1999), Emphasis on Reading (2000), Keystone to Reading Book Award (2000), South Carolina Children's Book Award (2001), NCTE/CLA Notable Children's Book in the English Language Arts (1999), AISLE Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss (1999), CCBC Choices (1998), Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award (2000), IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List (1999), NCTE Adventuring with Books (2000)
Grade(s): 2nd-5th
Summary: Tricia was a young girl who had been given the wisdom from her grandfather that knowledge had to be found within the pages of a book. She loved books and couldn't wait to start reading them. However, when she got into the first grade, she noticed that she was not on the same level as her peers. This began to scare her because she wanted so bad to learn to read. Soon, the older she got, more and more people were beginning to take notice that she wasn't able to read, but she was a very good artist. After her grandparents had passed away, her mother had gotten a new job in California and Tricia realized that she would have to attend a new school. She was hoping that none of her new classmates would be able to tell how she couldn't read, for this made her feel dumb. Unfortunately, quite the opposite had happened. Everyone began to make fun of her. That was until Mr. Falker started his new job at her school. Mr. Falker put an end to Tricia's classmates' mockery very quickly. All except for one student continued to mock and ridicule Tricia. Tricia ended up hating school and was bullied everyday. Soon, Mr. Falker realized that Tricia was far from "dumb." He realized that she was dyslexic. With this new knowledge, he worked with Tricia rigorously for 3 months and without realizing it, she was able to read when he put a book in front of her. She was elated!! She rushed home and found the book that her grandfather had given her long ago and remembered what he had told her. The book ends with an author's note stating that the story is her own. She explains how she had run into Mr. Falker many years later and was able to thank him for helping her get to where she is today, an author and illustrator.
My Thoughts: This book is a wonderful book dealing with a special needs topic that many find difficult to deal with. Going into the special education field myself, I have always been intrigued by disabilities that are not necessarily seen, and how to reach those learners. This book teaches a valuable lesson to not only students, but also for teachers!! Teachers can learn from this book that it is extremely important to know your students so that they can reach and help them in any of their weak spots. This also teaches teachers to be aware of how your students are being treated. As a teacher, you should always be able to pick out small indicators that allow you to know when you need to step in. This teaches students not to bully their classmates no matter what they think or feel. To embrace the diversity in their classrooms and to help their classmates in need instead of bringing them down. I will definitely be reading this book in my classroom for years to come!!
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