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 Polacco’s visit is being made possible through the West
Lincoln-Broadwell School Board, and the generosity of the Woods
Foundation. According to WLB School Board member Robert Henderson,
having a noted author come to the Lincoln and Logan County Schools
was a goal that he set for himself and his school board when he
became a member. Soon Henderson will be going off the board, but he
is very pleased that through the work of the board, and the support
of the Woods Foundation, that goal will come to fruition.
Henderson said that in addition to visiting WLB, arrangements had
been made for Polacco to visit a number of schools, and he is still
working on the final list of appearances. To date, arrangements had
been made for Polacco to appear at District # 27 elementary schools,
West Lincoln-Broadwell, Zion Lutheran Schools in Lincoln and Mount
Pulaski, Chester-East Lincoln, and will also appear at the Lincoln
Public Library.
 Henderson said he was pleased to see so many schools interested in
having the author visit and deliver a one-hour assembly for all
students. In addition, Polacco’s appearance at the LPL will open the
door for home schooled children and parents, as well as any other
elementary student families who wish to attend.
There will be no cost to children or families at any of these
events, including the meeting at the Public Library, which will be
held on Thursday, October 6th, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Library
Annex.
Henderson said that a grant received by the Woods Foundation, in
honor of Robert and Joan Jarrett Woods would pay the lion’s share of
having Polacco visit area schools. However, donations to cover the
balance of the cost are being accepted. Anyone who wishes to donate
may do so by visiting West Lincoln-Broadwell School, or donations
may be made out to WLB #92 and mailed to West Lincoln-Broadwell
District 92 in care of Robert Henderson, 888 1750th Street, Lincoln
IL 62656.
He also noted that if the donations exceed the need, the left over
money will be divided and distributed to the libraries of the
participating schools.
As a child, Polacco was 14 years old before she learned to read
well. She went through her early years suffering from dyslexia, a
condition that prevents children from seeing letters in their
correct order and direction. For years she faked her way through
school but gained the reputation of being a poor reader. Her efforts
were often met with teasing and ridicule.
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Because she didn’t have access to words as many children her age did
have, she turned to art as a means of expressing herself.
When she was 14, an astute teacher realized that Polacco was struggling because
she had a reading disability. That teacher, worked with Polacco to identify and
overcome the problem.
Her first book, “Thank you, Mr. Falker,” is the telling of Polacco’s story and a
personal message to the teacher who recognized her problem.
Summary of The Keeping Quilt
Taken from Scholastic.com
When Patricia's Great-Gramma Anna
came to America as a child, the only things she brought along from Russia were
her dress and the babushka she liked to throw up into the air when she was
dancing. Soon enough, though, Anna outgrew the dress, and her mother decided to
incorporate it and the babushka into a quilt. "It will be like having a family
in backhome Russia dance around us at night," she said. And so it was. Together
with her Uncle Vladimir's shirt, Aunt Havalah's nightdress, and an apron of Aunt
Natasha's, Anna's mother made a quilt that would be passed down through their
family for almost a century. From one generation to the next, the quilt was used
as a Sabbath tablecloth, a wedding canopy, and a blanket to welcome each new
child into the world.
The Keeping Quilt, Patricia Polacco's signature piece, was first published in
1988 and won the Sydney Taylor Book Award from the Association of Jewish
Libraries. This edition has been expanded to include Patricia's two children,
who have also been able to share in the family tradition by using the quilt for
birthdays and at play. Now a new generation of readers will come to cherish this
heartwarming story of one family's special symbol of enduring love and faith in
family.
[Nila Smith]
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