Thank you Mr. Falker by Patricia Pollaco
Appropriate Age Range: 5-8 years
What this book is all about:
Patricia Pollaco's books are memoirs, and this one is a story about her own schooling experiences. She is also the illustrator. In "Thank you Mr. Falker," Patricia ("Trisha") is a young girl who has difficulty reading. Mr. Falker is a special teacher who helps her learn to read.
Why you might want to read it:
"Thank you Mr. Falker" is an inspiring book that describes a relationship between a teacher and student. It can help open discussion about the feelings and struggles children experience if they have difficulty reading.
3 questions for you to ask your children after reading it:
In the story, Trisha realizes the kids in her class are learning to read but she isn't. Kids (and adults!) learn to do things at different times. What is something you learned to do at a different time than your friends?
Trisha loves drawing and illustrates all of her books. What do you notice about her style of illustrations?
In the book, Trisha begins to feel different. Is there a time you felt different from your classmates? Tell me about it.