Book #1 : Thank you, Mr Falker by Patricia Polacco

Polacco, Patricia. Thank you, Mr. Falker. New York: Philomel, 1998.

Patricia Polacco does a wonderful job describing the frustrations a learning disabled child can have. Tricia, the main character, is excited to attend school and learn how to read and write. Her family has always made learning sound fun. Before the first day of school her grandpa explained to her that knowledge is sweet, “but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it thought the pages of a book.” This excited Tricia and she is ready and willing to chase the knowledge. The problem is, the chase seemed like it was going to last forever, for as soon as Tricia tried to read the letters and numbers began to mix around and never stay where they began.

This story follows Tricia through her struggles of reading and portrays a lot of realistic feelings that a child with a learning disability would encounter. For example, Tricia is embarrassed because all of the other students begin to call her stupid and dumb because she can not read. Everyone has a way to escape their problems, as does Tricia in “Thank you, Mr. Falker”. Tricia’s means of escape is drawing. This is very relatable for all readers, because even if the reader does not have difficulties reading there is always something that they need to take their mind off of. The book gives hope, hope to strugglers and hope to society. There are always things to overcome, but the important thing is that the reader tries there best to overcome the issue. It took one amazing and patient teacher, Mr. Falker, to help her realize she is not dumb she just sees letters differently then the rest. This created hope in Tricia, hope that she had given up on so many years ago. The hope flows right off the pages into any of the readers. The book gives readers and listeners that have issues with reading, or know someone who has difficulties hope that one day they to will be able to read.

The story is autobiographical and touches the reader because it portrays a real struggle. Most of all it creates a sigh of relief because it allows readers to realize that they are not alone in this world. Over all this is another great story by Patricia Polacco that is powerful and touching.