Firetalking (Meet the Author) [Hardcover]

Patricia Polacco (Author), Lawrence Migdale (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-Warm and personable, these autobiographies by three children's book creators are a pleasure to read. Goble writes about his childhood in England, his lifelong fascination with Native Americans, and his home and work in Nebraska. Howe takes readers through the activities of a typical workday. Polacco explains how childhood evenings of "firetalking" with her Russian and Irish grandparents formed the basis of many of her stories. The black-and-white and full-color photographs add to the intimacy of the texts, showing the writers as children, working, relaxing, and in family-oriented situations. These books can be read independently or shared with younger children along with the authors' picture books.
Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

In the useful Meet the Author series, a particularly appealing entry from an author/illustrator whose picture books have grown directly out of a life experience that has included shuttling between divorced parents, an old-country ``babushka,'' growing up in a mixed California neighborhood, and marriage to a Jewish Italian. Polacco also, in this lively, forthright self- portrait, describes overcoming a learning disability and going on to get a doctorate in art history and also her methods of working, both the nitty gritty and the inspirational (``I listen to music and let my imagination soar. I take rocking so seriously I have at least one or two rockers in every room''). Succinct and remarkably well detailed. Also newly available: Paul Goble's Hau Kola/Hello Friend (ISBN: 1-878450- ). (Autobiography. 6-10) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Richard C Owen Pub; Har/Bklt edition (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878450557
• ISBN-13: 978-1878450555
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Literary

More About the Author

Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. Her school year was spent in Oakland, California, and summers in her beloved Michigan. 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 Umph!"Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons. As a participant in many citizen exchange programs for writers and illustrators, Patricia Polacco has traveled extensively in Russia as well as other former Soviet republics. She continues to support programs that encourage Russo-American friendships and understanding. She is also deeply involved in inner-city projects here in the U.S. that promote the peaceful resolution of conflict and encourage art and literacy programs.The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming Autobiography, May 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Firetalking (Meet the Author) (Hardcover)

This book is written at elementary school age level. Patricia Polacco tells children more about her life, why she writes books, and how she accomplishes the writing process. There are numerous photographs of her and her family so that you can see the real people she writes about in Rotten Red Headed Older Brother and Chicken Sunday. Children who love her stories will be fascinated reading about her "real" life and seeing pictures of her and her home.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book - great concept, June 20, 2008

By 

Misaacmom "misaacmom" (NC - United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firetalking (Meet the Author) (Hardcover)

My daughter brought this book home from school. She used her "book bucks" to select this and said it was the "only good book". Today I read through the book and agree that it is a wonderful book for school age children. The author basically shares information about herself, her heritage, her family, her career and her life through her writing. She really opens up about her passion for her family, her art and her work in a positive and enthusiastic manner. The book includes stories, drawings, pictures.