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Behind The Scenes

Meet Patricia Polacco, Creator of Thank You, Mr. Falker

Thank You, Patricia Polacco!

by Alexie Basil

Discover how a special teacher helped author Patricia Polacco overcome a reading disability and inspired her award-winning children’s book Thank You, Mr. Falker. Play Patricia’s Scholastic Book Clubs–exclusive interview for your students to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6–10).

Patricia Polacco already thanked her favorite teacher, Mr. Falker, in the aptly titled Thank You, Mr. Falker—and now, she wants to thank you, teachers everywhere!

In this video interview, the beloved children’s book creator reveals the real-life details behind Thank You, Mr. Falker, as well as her appreciation for educators and their contributions to children’s lives.

Watch the video together with your students and celebrate the amazing impact of teachers. Patricia’s story also offers a powerful reminder to students that even bestselling authors can face challenges with reading!

If we could say anything to Patricia Polacco, we would tell her: Thank you for putting so many wonderful stories onto our bookshelves and into our classrooms and helping us to spread the joy of reading with students everywhere. If you could tell or ask Patricia anything, what would you say? Please share with us on social media using the hashtag #ScholasticBookClubs.

About Patricia Polacco

Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to a mother of Russian and Ukrainian descent and a father of Irish descent, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. She spent the school months in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. She continued to study in the United States and Australia, earning an MFA and PhD in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting and iconographic history. In addition to including familiar places in her books, close family members, distant relatives, and favorite friends have found their way onto Patricia’s pages. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers. “My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping corn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about their homeland and the past. We are tenacious traditionalists and sentimentalists. With each retelling, our stories gain a little more oomph!”

Photo credit: Donna Claar

This Book Is Available from Scholastic Book Clubs

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Thank You, Mr. Falker

by Patricia Polacco

Great for Students and Teachers Alike

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Authors,Illustrators,Interviews,Patricia Polacco,Picture Books,Thank You Mr Falker,Video
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A Note from Judy

Summer is finally here! Thank you, teachers and parents, for a fantastic 2021–2022 school year full of reading, learning, and fun. And the best part? The joys of reading don’t have to stop now!

Encourage your students to keep their minds and imaginations active through summer reading! Visit the Summer Boutique to discover many exciting and engaging books for all reading levels and interests. There’s sure to be a story that will catch every student’s attention.

We can’t wait to see you again next fall with a whole new lineup of Books of the Week and free resources for your class!

Judy Newman

President and Reader in Chief
Scholastic Book Clubs

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