Thank you, Mr. Falker

Polacco, P. (1998). Thank you, Mr. Falker. New York: Philomel Books.

Brief Annotation: Although she loves school, Trisha struggles with reading. The other kids tease her but moving to California could be a fresh start. As she settles in to her new school, Trisha tries hard to keep up with her studies, but her new classmates continue to laugh and taunt her. She feels lost and alone, until Mr. Falker begins teaching at her school. He becomes aware of her secret and promises her that soon she will be able to read.

Genre: Biography/Memoir

Grade Level: K through Grade 6

Readers who will like this: Young readers who like true/autobiographical stories, young readers who would benefit from a story with a strong role model, young readers who would benefit from a story that addresses learning disabilities

Response/Rating (1-4): 4, In a heartfelt autobiographical story, the author reveals her own struggles with dyslexia as a young child. She hid her secret from the world, facing daily ridicule from her classmates, until a compassionate teacher taught her to read and in doing so, unlocked her true potential. In the final page of the book, the author thanks all teachers for improving the lives of students. The book provides great classroom discussion material for teachers to assist young children in learning about or dealing with learning disabilities.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: In what ways has a teacher helped you to become a better student?