A wonderful and heart warming story. Great for lessons. Book came in mint condition and at an extremely reasonable price.

Years ago when I was a student teacher, my mentor gave this book to me on my last day in her classroom. The dedication read, "A loving teacher can recognize the needs of a child and make a positive contribution to shape his/her life." When I sat down to read the story, I felt my eyes tear up because of the emotions of the main character, Trisha, as she grows up. We follow Trisha from the very beginning as a young girl ready for kindergarten filled with the anticipation of learning to read. However, soon Trisha becomes aware of other students progressing at a much faster pace. Her grandmother, a loving special confidant to Trisha, encourages her to grow and learn. As Trisha's journey continues, the pain of struggling to read and handling the mean bullying comments from her peers becomes all-consuming. Her grandmother "loses her grip on the grass" and passes away. Her mother, brother, and Trisha then move to another state and a brand new school. The students call her stupid and dumb. Here in the story, Patricia Polacco's illustrations depict the intense pain this little girl faces daily at school. All alone, she copes the best way she can by working on her artwork (in which she excels) and hiding from the mean boys that tease her over and over each day. Then, one fateful day, a positive bright light in her life, Mr. Falker, the fifth grade teacher, saves her from the bullies and entices Trisha to share her dreaded secret: she can't read and feels stupid. Mr. Falker rescues her from the intense loneliness and shame. He tells her, "You just see the letters and numbers differently, Little One. You have been very smart and have fooled many good teachers." He works with her each day practicing shapes, letters, words. Suddenly, the pieces begin to come together and Trisha realizes that she can actually read on her own. How sweet this is as we watch Trisha perform the "honey" ceremony on a book like her family did when she was only four years old. The best part of the book is the back page. We learn that Trisha is really Patricia Polacco. She actually runs into Mr. Falker at a function many years later. He asks her, "What do you do?" She replies, "Why, Mr. Falker, I write books for children." When I read this part to students, I cry every single time! You will, too.

Trisha is a young red headed fifth grade girl who has trouble reading. All throughout school she has felt embarassed because while everybody else in her class could read she has struggled to learn. Kids tease her all the time and the only person who understood her, grandma, dies. Then one day a new teacher comes to school and his name is Mr. Falker. Will he be able to help Trisha or will it be another nightmare school year? This book is great because it really inspires me and it has a great surprise ending. I could really relate to Trisha's problems because when I was in fifth grade I couldn't multiply and it made me really sad. I would recommend this book to anybody who has had problems learning how to do something. This book will make you never want to quit.

I was so overly pleased with this transaction and the quality of the book! Everything has been a great experience! This book was a great find. It would make a great present for a teacher or a child who has difficulty reading

I am 65 and I am dyslexic. My son who now is 38 is dyselic,my one grand daughter is 6 and also dyslexia.I am an artist,son a successful college grad and manager in a major corp.with a lot of help and struggle on part we make it.this bookis exactley what we must go through. I will send a copy to the school my grand daughter goes to in hopes the k-5 teachers read it. Teachers are so very important to all our lives.This book brings that across so very well.