PATRICIA POLACCO

A Fiery Storyteller

A Portrait of Patricia Polacco

Born July 11, 1944 in Lansing, Michigan Author and illustrator of various picture books Dyslexic struggled with school; began reading at 14 Wrote Thank You Mr. Falker about these experiences Lived on her grandparents farm until 1949 most magical times of my life Heavily influenced by grandparents most inspirational people in my life theme of young and old in all books Called her grandmother Babushka -Russian for grandmother - and included this term in the title of three of her books

Biography - continued
Parents divorced at age 3 school year with mother and her parents; summers with father and his parents Having relationships with both children and elderly Most valuable experience of my life. Learned humility at young age and carried it with her into her adult years and in her writing Always eager to hear folk tales passed down real curiosity for living a long life (more interaction with elderly) Father was a talk show host
Took part in firetalking which greatly influenced her writing

Babushka's Mother Goose

A Further Profile of Patricia

Youd have to go through at least four different hugs to get from the kitchen to the front room. Those relatives! Patricia Polacco, from Thank you, Mr. Falker

Through humor , this quote illustrates her focus on the importance of family Setting for many of her stories is her Babushka s farm in Union City, MI much influence storytelling, meteor (e.g. Meteor!) Lived in Oakland, CA for 37 years and now resides in Union City again ethnic and religious diversity in CA influenced Unknowingly dyslexic and teased until teacher ( hero ) figured it out and got her help ended up with Ph.D. in art h.

A Final Word on Ms. P

After her degree, worked restoring art at a museum and had two children who became her main focus Symptom of her dyslexia very good artist started writing picture books at age 41 Irony trouble reading into her teens then becomes renowned author and illustrator Family of storytellers - Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Louisiana
When you are raised hearing stories, not seeing them, you become very good at telling stories yourself. Patricia Polacco

Literary Awards
1988 Sydney Taylor Book Award The Keeping Quilt 1989 - International Reading Association Award Rechenka s Eggs 1990- Santa Clara Reading Council Author s Hall of Fame Commonwealth Club of California Recognition of Excellence 1990 Babushka s Doll 1992 Chicken Sunday 1992 - Society of Children s Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award for Illustration Chicken Sunday 1993 - Jane Adams Peace Assoc. and Women s Intl. League for Peace and Freedom 1996 - Jo Osborne Award For Humor in Children s Literature

Patricias Philosophies
Where do you get your ideas from? The same place you do my imagination. Attributes her rich imagination to her storytelling experiences and lack of television Electronic screens drown out the voice that we all have for our passions turn off the T.V. and follow your voice Currently: writing seminars, storytelling festivals, literature conferences, and other events that celebrate children s literature

The distinctive work of P.P.

Often became a student on the topic and culture she was writing about
Just Plain Fancy studied the Amish and lived with them The Butterfly true story about family but studied Holocaust too

Wrote her first book in 1988 (age 41) Boat Ride with Lillian Two Blossom followed by The Keeping Quilt that same year Responds to letters with hand-written reply
Does not own a computer

Advice remains constant when speaking with children: Turn off the TV and LISTEN...LISTEN...LISTEN.
I am lucky so very lucky! I love my life. Can you imagine doing what you love every day? . . . My thoughts boil in my head. They catch the air and fly. The images and stories come back with fury and energy. . . . My heart sings whenever I am drawing.
Patricia Polacco, from her autobiography, Firetalking

Inspirations
Her family history influences much of her work
e.g. The Butterfly based on the lives of aunt and great aunt during the Nazi occupation of France in WWII

Firetalking with grandparents basis of many stories

e.g. Rechenka s Eggs friendship, miracles, and Ukrainian eggs

Beatrix Potter s Peter Rabbit enjoyed as a child (like most) Favorite picture book of all time - The Tall Mother Goose by Fedor Rojankovsky Horton Hatches The Egg by Dr. Seuss Artistic role model Norman Rockwell
I don't believe that any living illustrator did not at one time or another scrutinize and emulate his style and vision.

Classical artists Raphael

Much to teach any new artist today

Just Plain Fancy (1990)

Story of two Amish sisters who are tired of being so plain and stumble upon an unusual egg in the field The egg hatches and is different from the others Fancy Girls realize this is no ordinary bird, fear they will be shunned The bird manages to escape and is out for the elders to see But to their surprise, the adults praise the beautiful animal and the two girls for raising it
This is no plain chicken. This be one of God s most beautiful creations. He is fancy, child, and that s the way of it.

Just Plain Fancy (1990)

Themes:
Don t be quick to judge things different from you Don t be quick to make assumptions without proper knowledge (e.g. they just assumed without asking) Nearly everything is unique and should be valued Be open-minded - learn to appreciate the little things in life and the just plain fancy miracles Be proud of your culture and your background every culture has its unique characteristics balance is key - don t take things for granted

The Butterfly (2000)

True story about her great aunt who was a part of French underground and her aunt became friends with the Jewish girl living in their basement during WWII Nazis control Monique s (Polacco s aunt) French village Thinks she sees a ghost one night but ends up being a Jewish girl who has been living in their secret basement w/ parents Develop friendship butterfly - but one night are seen by neighbor and both families must flee Separated at train station but walks two miles back home and are reunited papillons at the end as sign she s alright

The Butterfly (2000)

Themes:
Story of real friendship and real bravery Horrific events like WWII can lead to true acts of courage Butterfly symbolizes freedom through friendship the two girls have faith they will one day be as free as the papillon Turmoil of Nazi occupation and effect on familiesparents had to lie to their children to protect them Overcoming obstacles bravery and compassion of children and adults alike

Rechenka s Eggs (1988)

Babushka, an impressive egg painter and animal fan lived in solitude in a little house out in the country in Russia. When she was out one eve feeding the caribou, she saw a goose fall from the sky wounded by a hunter s gunshot. She took this goose into her care and gave it a name: Rechenka. The goose hopped on her working desk and knocked down all of her beautiful painted eggs. Rechenka laid eggs the next few days with the most intricate and beautiful patterns on them for Babushka. She took them to the fair and won a marvelous prize, however, the goose had finally recovered and Babushka knew it was time to release her back into the wild. Rechenka left Babushka one last gift: her child, born from one of her very beautiful eggs. Babushka and the goose lived together always.

Rechenka s Eggs (1988)

Themes:
Empathy: Babushka s kind actions lead to the recovery of the goose. Civility: Though the goose destroyed Babushka s eggs by accident, she did not scorn her. Fortitude: Despite her wound, Rechenka would live on and recover. Family: Though they did not know each other long, they became like family, each caring for the other. Efficacy: Babushka was proud of her award winning eggs. Life: The book shows a baby goose born from an egg; the miracle of life.

A Summary of In Enzo s Splendid Gardens In Enzo s Splendid Gardens was about a little boy who dropped a book when he saw a bee sitting on a tree which set off a chain reaction. After the boy dropped the book the waiter slipped on it and spilled a large drink on the matron, who caused the two women Foo- Foo and Shee- Shee to drop their tea cups and fall off balance, then they pushed a man into the dessert tray. This continues until the fire department comes and the boy realizes that he had caused all the chaos.

A Summary of G is for Goat The book G is for Goat is a book all about the alphabet, except for that it is all about goats. For example one is B is for Billy what boy goats are called . It talks about what goats eat, what they do, what they like, what they dislike, what raising them is like, and how she raises them. She even talks about taking them to the vet.

Illustrations
Inspired by Norman Rockwell and Classical artists Artistic style seemed to evolve over time but more dependent on the story s plot and theme
e.g. Just Plain Fancy (1990) different from The Butterfly (2000) but similar to G is for Goat (2003)

Uses a wide variety of media (illustration techniques)

e.g. pentel acetone markers, acryllic paint, pencil, oil pastels, actual photographs of people

Various techniques to decide what her characters will resemble

e.g. live models, photographs, imagination

Writing and Illustrating Process

1-2 months: write and re-write
32 pages-double sided: length of most children s books Perfectionist: rewrites many times until she and her editor are content

1 month: draw up the dummy (rough draft)

Then sent to NYC where art director edits and sends back

1-2 months: final color illustrations 1 month: scan and color separate in NYC
Then the films of the entire book are sent to Hong Kong to be printed Most color books are printed in Hong Kong - the printing process takes about a month Then the books are boxed and shipped back to the U.S. and stored in the publishers warehouses.

Up to 6 months: books can remain in warehouses until publication date when book is released for purchase Approximate time for entire process: 10-12 months

Contributions: A quilt thats worth keeping

Storytelling ( Firetalking ) - multicultural views from ethnic grandparents had major effect on writing open-minded
e.g. The Butterfly realism and friendship

Oral tradition vast catalog of tales: most culture-specific

Storytellers have a dual role: historian and fantasist Listened to family members as a child; then herself through literature

Unity of community various backgrounds coming together; accepting of each other s differences
e.g. Just Plain Fancy Amish don t always have to be plain

Historical accounts with important themes and morals

e.g. The Butterfly; Rechenka s Eggs

Multicultural/Interracial friendship
e.g. Pink and Say Civil War account of young slave and Union soldier

A Brief Moment with Patricia

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interview s/polacco
Family stories tradition; storytelling: how things were Role and influence of the storyteller Babushka and herself firetalking Of course it s a true story, but it may not have happened. fantasist element of storytelling Multicultural stories heart of humanity is the same Start with commonalities and celebrate our differences Hero/teacher opened the world up by discovering her dyslexia $2500 fee to have Patricia Polacco speak at an event/school

Bibliography
Goodreads, Inc. (2010). Quotes by Patricia Polacco. Goodreads. Retrieved on February 22, 2010, from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/46688.Patricia_Polacco Kumar, L. (2007) Something About the Author (Vol. 180). Farmington Hills, MI: The Gale Group, Inc. Polacco, P. (2003) G is for Goat. New York: Philomel Books. Polacco, P. (1997) In Enzo s Splendid Gardens. New York: Philomel Books. Polacco, P. (1990). Just Plain Fancy. New York: Bantam Doubleday Publishing Group, Inc. Polacco, P. (1988). Rechenka s Eggs. New York: Philomel Books. Polacco, P. (2000). The Butterfly. New York: Philomel Books. Polacco, P. (2010). Who am I? Retrieved on February 20, 2010, from http://www.patriciapolacco.com/author/bio/bio.html Scholastic, Inc. (2010). Patricia Polacco Biography. Teachers: Where Teachers Come First. Retrieved on February 20, 2010, from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3506 WETA. (2008). Featured Books by Patricia Polacco. Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers. Retrieved on February 24, 2010, from http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/polacco/featuredbooks WETA. (2008). A Video Interview with Patricia Polacco. Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers. Retrieved on February 24, 2010, from http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/polacco