Books For Older Children

Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco.

I love this picture book. I read this to a 4th grade class the other day, and when I finished reading it the class clapped! Actually, I had two classes clap. This is something first and second graders do, but not big, bad, cool fourth graders.

It is a true story about the author when she was a girl. She couldn't learn to read, but she learned very well how to fake it, and it isn't until she meets her fifth grade teacher Mr. Falker, that things begin to change for her. By the time he learns she can't read, her self-esteem is quite low, and she is being bullied by the other children for being dumb.

He is amazed by her artistic talent and seeing her potential, he gets her the help of a reading teacher and spends extra time with her until she figures out how to read. The children are always surprised at the end when they find out that the story is true and that this amazingly prolific author was once that sad little girl.

The illustrations are powerful. The students are drawn into it despite themselves, and it is especially good to use as a starting place for discussing how everyone learns differently and at different rates.

The author uses a metaphor of tasting honey to describe the act of reading. This can be a discussion point. There is also the bullying issue that can be addressed as well.