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A video interview with

Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco tells warm family tales drawn from her own childhood among an extended immigrant family of grandparents and cousins. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Patricia Polacco talks about writing and illustrating and the passing down of family history whose themes resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

Click on the links below§ to watch this interview online or to download it. You can also read the interview transcript. or a short biography of Patricia Polacco, or see a selected list of her children's books.

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Family stories (:40)
Patricia Polacco remembers listening to the elders in her family tell how things were. Now she is the one who passes down family history.
Fire-talking (1:30)
Polacco's Ukrainian grandmother used to tell tall tales in front of the living room fire.
Multicultural citizens (1:30)
Patricia Polacco grew up in an urban Oakland neighborhood where different colors, prayers, food, and dress were commonplace. Her multicultural books bring this diversity to children, no matter where they live.
Finding commonalities (1:30)
Mr. Lincoln's Way is a story that deliberately deals with the issue of skin color.
The teacher who changed everything (2:00)
Patricia Polacco recalls the day that her teacher discovered her dyslexia.
More contrast (1:30)
Polacco explains why she sometimes chooses to illustrate in black and white instead of color.
Thunder is just a noise (2:30)
Patricia Polacco braved the kicking cow, scratching chicken, and ominous thunder to gather ingredients for her grandmother's Thunder Cake.

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