* Thank You Mr. Falker   Patricia Polacco


This is an excellent read.  It is about a young girl who wants to learn to read but never really gets the hang of it.  She is always reading below level and hates to read out loud due to her inability to read.  She gets made fun for this and begins to hate school and not participate to her potential, until Mr. Falker comes to teach at the school.  He is a very passionate teacher and soon realizes that this young girl can not read.  He immidately sets up afterschool sessions with him and a female teacher and sets to teaching this young lady to read.  She soon has the ability to read and is in love with reading and school finally, and she owes it all  to that very special teacher, Mr. Falker.   Patricia Polacco says this is a semi true story because that little girl was her and that teacher was Mr. Falker.  This is very relatable and a great and encouraging read.  It is great for any age group.  It is recommended for 2nd grade and above, when reading really comes president and these struggles may start for students.