Jan 10, 2017 3 min read

Patricia Polacco struggled mightily while growing up in southern Michigan. She had learning disabilities, including dyslexia, and was essentially unable to read until she was 14. Polacco lacked confidence, was teased by her peers and hid her reading disorder.

Finally, a teacher recognized her needs, taught her how to read and urged her to cultivate the artistic talents she had displayed as a coping mechanism.

Over time, Polacco developed into a celebrated author, illustrator and designer of children’s books. And an inspiration.

Now 72, Polacco will bring that inspiration and more to the Trinity High School auditorium Saturday. The uncertain girl turned literary master will speak to two groups of students, kindergartners through second-graders at 11 a.m. and third-graders and older at 1:15 p.m. Doors will open at 10 a.m.

Keystone’s Corner Reading Council – serving Washington, Greene and Fayette counties – and Trinity High’s student council are cosponsoring the free event. Student council, which is participating as its spring community service project, will have activity stations in the cafeteria based on her works. Barnes & Noble representatives will be selling picture books written and illustrated by Polacco, who will sign them after each presentation.

The author is a sought-after speaker who went head to head with the Steelers on Sunday in an afternoon lecture at Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland. She will follow that with the Trinity appearance, her first at a Washington County school.

Kelly Shaw, a teacher at Trinity East Elementary School and an officer in the local reading council, said the council wanted to try to “piggyback” a trip here shortly after the Oakland lecture as a convenience to the author. Shaw said Polacco doesn’t like to fly and usually travels by train to and from her farm in Union City, Mich.

“We contacted her representatives in Union City to set this up.”

Young people nationwide are familiar with the works of Polacco, who has a trademark hair bun. She bases many of her books on personal experiences. “Thank You, Mr. Falker” is essentially a testimonial to the teacher who identified her disabilities.

“The Keeping Quilt” centers on a quilt family members made with clothes they wore generations ago while coming to America from Russia. One of her earlier works – “Meteor!” – is about how the landing of a meteorite brings unfettered joy to a rural Michigan town. It is based on an actual event.

“She will bring a piece of a meteor when she speaks here,” said Shaw, whose local council is part of the Keystone State Reading Association and the International Literary Association.

“A lot of her books are read aloud in local classrooms,” Shaw continued. “As an author and illustrator, her stories are wonderful. She richly weaves in her family life and the stories are relevant to other people’s lives.”

After a challenging academic start, Polacco went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Ph.D. She wrote and illustrated her first picture book – “Boat Ride with Lillian Two Blossom” – in 1985, when she was 41. Sixty-six have followed, including the aforementioned plus “Babushka’s Doll,” “The Blessing Cup” and “My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother.”

She has earned numerous literary awards during her 31-year career, and is a staunch advocate for people with learning disabilities.

On Saturday, she will reward young readers – and older readers – with her presence and insights.