How
did Patricia Polacco become a writer?
A perfect companion to the classic
Thank You, Mr. Falker,
The Art of Miss Chew, and
Mr. Wayne’s Masterpiece, this book celebrates a teacher who inspired a young Patricia Polacco to become the writer and storyteller she is today.
Trisha is nervous about being chosen for Miss Keller’s writing class. “Killer Keller” demands that her students dazzle her with their writing, and rumor has it that she has never given an A. The rumors turn out to be all too true—there’s just no pleasing Miss Keller. Then an unexpected loss leaves Trisha heartbroken. Thoughts of teachers and grades forgotten, she pours out her soul in a personal narrative. And when Miss Keller reads it, she tells Trisha, “You’ve given your words wings.”
On sale: September 29, 2015
Age: 5-8 years
Grade: Grades K-3
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9780399166914
Reading level: Lexile: 700L
Patricia Polacco (www.patriciapolacco.com) is the beloved
New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of over fifty picture books. She visits as many as two hundred classrooms in a single year, not only speaking but listening to the hundreds of children that she meets. Grateful for what teachers have done for her, she is also a popular keynote speaker celebrating teachers everywhere. She lives in Union City, Michigan, where she enjoys speaking to the myriad children who come to visit her and the famous meteor, the object of one of Patricia’s best-known stories.
“Polacco introduces readers to another inspirational teacher from her past in this inspiring tale. . . . This story from the author’s life, colorfully illustrated with pencils and markers in her signature style, is affecting, engaging, and informative.”
—Booklist
“Polacco’s colorful illustrations are engaging, with pencil lines used in the characters’ facial expressions to evoke a range of emotion. . . . Add Miss Keller to Polacco’s collection of inspirational teachers, including Mr. Falker, Mr. Lincoln, and Miss Chew.”—
School Library Journal
“Inspired by Polacco’s experience growing up and the teacher who encouraged her to write, students can relate to Tricia’s experience and struggle in trying to please a teacher who seems impossible to please.”
—School Library Connection
