Customer Reviews

Thank You, Mr. Falker

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even though Thank You, Mr. Falker is a children's book, it is one of the most incredible and profound books I have ever read. It is a "must-read" for every child and teacher, whether new or experienced. The text and the picture blend so perfectly together, just like all picture books should. The pictures portray the feelings of a little girl who is obviously alone and so in need of love and recognition.

I introduced Thank You, Mr. Falker to my principal, assistant principal,and instructional facilitator(IF) the Monday morning after I had read it. They all loved it as much as I did. (Our assistant principal even left a note on the front of the book, stating her review: "WOW". Our IF was about to instruct the teachers in our school on differentiating instruction; she thought this book would demonstrate that topic very well. I asked her if I could read the book to them at each of their grade-level meetings. Many tears were shed as we shared this special story.

This story may help teachers to realize how important they can be in the life of every student who walks through the doors of their classroom. We may never know what impact our interactions with a child will have on a "Patricia Polacco" in-the-making.

I am glad Thank You, Mr. Falker has been nominated for South Carolina Children's Book of the Year for 2000-2001. I predict the children of SC will love it as much as our teachers did.

Patricia Polacco bases this story on her own experiences as a child. She uses the story in this beautiful book to thank her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Falker. In the book, Tricia, who has a yearning to learn to read because of her family's love of learning, discovers that letters in books seem to be all just wiggling shapes. As Tricia moves through school, students call her dumb. She sadly begins to except their teasing and begins to believe she truly is dumb; until, Fifth Grade when she is blessed with an outstanding teacher, Mr. Falker. Every classroom should not only have this book, it should be read aloud. Without saying the word "dyslexia" or preaching, Polacco has produced a wonderfully compassionate story.

As I slowly read through the pages of this wonderful book, I was touched. I found myself making connections to the young girl and her struggles. I understand what it means to be a struggling reader. I remembered a special teacher who made a difference in my life and helped me to read. As a teacher, I read the book to my class. At the end, my second and third graders had a lot to say! They connected with the character and her struggles too. We shared our own struggles with life. Their struggles ranged from reading and learning to play a new sport to relationships and friendships. The students had made connections. As a techer, I want all my students to make real connections to books, find passion in reading, and treat others kindly. This book really helped my students to see the importance of all these things in a very real way!

One of the most touching children's books I've read in recent memory, this autobiographical story by the great Patricia Polacco tells how "Tricia" overcame her reading problems with the help of a compassionate teacher. Polacco's story evokes the attendant feelings of inferiority and isolations, as well as her grateful joy upon finally reading an entire paragraph.

The story opens with a family ritual later expanded into a full story in Polacco's "The Bee Tree": Her grandfather drizzles some honey on a book cover and tells her "knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book."

Polacco draws in her trademark big loopy style; her palette and composition superbly capture emotion, particularly in the close-ups. She can convey a range of feelings simply by how she places color on a person's face. She's one of the most original and recognizable illustrators around. One of the most heartfelt and moving books you'll find in children's literature.

I applaud Patricia Polacco for her outstanding book, Thank You, Mr. Falker. She tells a story that happened to her as a little girl which will encourage children everywhere who are learning to read or struggling with the idea. When I read this story to my eight year old nephew he smiled and said, "maybe I will learn to read better."
The main character of this book, Trisha, goes through something that many young children go through. They will be able to relate to the situation and maybe learn from her. Learning to read is quite a task to master, especially if you have a learning disability like the author of this book did.
When little Trisha was in fifth grade she had a teacher, Mr. Falker, who opened up the word of reading to her. He set out to prove to her that she can and will read. He works with her for weeks and one day she does just that. This story will encourage children. I wish I had a book like this when I was struggling to help regain my confidence. It also inspires me to thank the teacher that made a huge impact in my life.
Patricia used folk art style in her pictures. They are very detailed and colorful and fit the text very will. The pictures will really jump out to readers and entertain their imagination.
Thank You, Mr. Falker is a wonderful book. I recommend this to any child that is beginning to learn to read. I hope teachers will make sure that kids hear this encouraging story about a "real live author." They will be able to relate, learn, and gain confidence from the story.

"The honey is sweet, and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee who made the honey, it has to be chased through the pages of a book."

Young Tricia, a fictionalized version of author/illustrator Patricia Polacco, struggles with reading, while enduring the teasing of her classmates from kindergarten through 5th grade, hoping to realize her grandfather's proverb in her own life.

This emotionally gripping story about a child who deals with what is now called dyslexia is the true story of many children throughout the years. My wife, like Patricia Polacco, attended school in an era when this learning disability didn't have a name. She was like Tricia when the caring Mr. Falker said, "But, little one, don't you understand, you don't see letters or numbers the way other people do. And you've gotten through school all this time, and fooled many, many good teachers!" My wife finally made sense of all those "wiggling shapes" on the page in the 6th grade, and she hasn't stopped reading since.

This is just to say this is a TRUE STORY for many children. And it's told (and illustrated) in a manner that will enable other children understand and empathize with the struggles, the feelings of loneliness and rejection, and the ultimate joy of victory (not to mention the warmth and security of loving grandparents)!

I have read "Thank You, Mr. Falker" to many first and second grade classes in our elementary school library, and in every case you could hear a pin drop by the time we got to the third page! This book should be required reading for every teacher, and should be a staple in every elementary school library. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This is perhaps the most important of Patricia Polacco's autobiographical books. What an overwhelming triumph for a bright and gifted child who was unable to read until late elementary school to have created this book! Polacco shares her feelings of ostracism and self-doubt so poignantly though the written word as well as through her sensitive illustrations. Mr. Falker is the kind of teacher all of us wish we could have had, and for those of us in education, aspire to become. His insight, patience and skill are truly inspiring, as is Patricia's courage in sharing this important story.

This is a fantastic story that portrays a young girl who endures bullying and overcomes her learning difficulties thanks to the help of her kind-hearted teacher. The character Trisha is lovable character, who tugs at your heart with her underdog status. The story is written in clear language that is accessible to elementary aged students. The illustrations are an excellent portrayal of how Trisha feels, the colors are intense, and they help the reader to experience how the characters are feeling. Overall, this story is fantastic story about bullying and learning difficulties, it helps to increase the reader's sensitivity to others. This story would be appropriate in an elementary classroom (grades 2-3). This story can lead into several character education lessons, along with writing lessons.Teachers can encourage students to write letters to someone they feel, helped them improve or helped them feel good about themselves.

I have a son with severe dyslexia. He has a measured IQ of genius level. He does graduate college math. Only this year has he been able to attain grade reading level (4th grade). Most of the time he is very frustrated when he tries to read. This book has helped him realize that others have had to deal with the same problem. This is a book for every child who is dyslexic, for every teacher who has taught such a child, and for every child to read so that they can learn that every person has special talents, but we don't have every talent. From the mom who was born deaf and was supposed to never ever be able to speak due to birth defects. PS I give a copy of this book to every school that my son attends to put in their library and to each one of his teachers.

Tricia has found school a daunting experience for years. Bright and dyslexic, she finds reading time the biggest hardship in her life. She has to contend with the cruelty of her peers and her constant doubts about her own intelligence and place among her family of avid readers.

The year Tricia was in 5th grade, she moved out of state. Eager to make a fresh start, Tricia entered Mr. Falker's classroom. Once again, she was made the object of cruel jeering among her peers because she was not able to read. One especially cruel boy named Eric seemed to derive sadistic pleasure in taunting her.

Tricia's teacher, Mr. Falker decided to take the bull by the horns once and for all. He declared his classroom had a zero tolerance for taunting; he encouraged Tricia in every effort she made.

Tricia soldiered on, but still had trouble reading. Matters reached a critical head when Mr. Falker found her crying in a broom closet in an attempt to hide from Eric.

From that day on, he worked with Tricia and a reading teacher. Mr. Falker and the reading teacher were positive, gentle and very encouraging. They cheered every progress, regardless. Between the two professionals, Tricia took off like the proverbial jet plane. Basking in the glow of her success, she would, as she said, in later years embark upon a writing career.

This book will make you sad, mad, cheer and maybe even cry. It is a sterling example of a success story and is a salute to every kind teacher who really made a positive difference in somebody's life. I would never be able to read this out loud because it is just too moving.

This book deserves a special award. It is truly a masterpiece and very inspiring.