Thank you, Mr. Falker

Polacco tells the story of a young girl, Tricia, who feels different because she can’t read.  The story opens with Tricia on her 5^th birthday, excitedly holding a small book, as her family passes on the promise of learning to read.  The family engages in the tradition of drizzling honey on a book to pass along knowledge, yet Tricia faces disappointment in school when reading doesn’t come easily to her.  Through the years, Tricia endures taunting and ridicule from unkind classmates, and her confidence declines until she meets her 5^th grade teacher, Mr. Falker.

This is a touching read that many students and adults can easily relate to.  I made the mistake of reading this book right before school started on Friday morning and had tears in my eyes as the students walked through the door.  This book came highly recommended by my husband Chris, a 5^th grade teacher, and captures the reason why I’m a teacher today.  Students of all ages will easily relate to Polacco’s heartfelt journey told in a captivating narrative format.  Written with strong voice and complex literary language, students will still find the story line accessible and readers will feel compassion and empathy for the main character, Tricia.

Although the story is filled with strong emotion, Tricia’s story beautifully unfolds and is a timeless tale that many students and teachers will find touching. Teachers will find the text a useful touchstone for discussing issues of acceptance, respect, and inclusion.  Thank you, Mr. Falker, is a story to treasure about a teacher’s belief in all children, and a child’s belief in herself.  A must-read for all teachers – I can’t wait to read it aloud to my students!

- Janine Tong Marcoux