Just Plain Fancy [Mass Market Paperback]

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044090076X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440900764
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,426,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wondeful Book, April 3, 2009

By 

Michelle Mills "reading teacher" (Fort Worth, TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Just Plain Fancy (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Dell Picture Yearling) (School & Library Binding)

I teach inner city second graders who rarely leave their neighborhood. They loved learning about Amish children and were astounded to know that the Amish community is another community in their country. Patricia Palacco has a way of writing about other cultures, children, and situations that my students really enjoy. Her books help them become better readers because after I read the book to them, they will pick it up to read on their own.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Plain Fancy, December 3, 2009

By 

Nellana F. Degraff "Serenity now" (Missouri) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Just Plain Fancy (Paperback)

This is a great book for children to read to learn something about the Amish. The author is a wonderful artist as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful story, great illustrations, February 2, 2012

By 

Kara S. Croker (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Just Plain Fancy (Paperback)

Patricia Polacco is a favorite author in our house, but I think this book tops them all for us. She handles explanations of the Amish way of life in a simple and respectful way without diminishing how children behave universally. The illustrations are fabulous and tell more of the story, as well. I couldn't find this particular book at the bookstore any more, and I am grateful there is an Amazon.com so I can still buy copies for others.