Thank You, Mr. Falker

Author(s) Patricia Polacco
Illustrator(s)
Age Group 6-10
Publisher Philomel Books
ISBN 978-0399257629
Year 2012

Trisha is overjoyed at the thought of starting school and learning how to read, but right from the start all the letters and numbers get jumbled up. Her classmates make matters worse by calling her “dummy” and “toad.” Then, in fifth grade, a new teacher sees right through the sad little girl to the artist she really is. When he discovers Trisha’s secret—that she can’t read—he sets out to help her prove to herself that she can. This autobiographical story is a personal song of thanks and praise to teachers who change the lives of the children they teach.