My stories are fundamentally about the love of family. Patricia Polacco More Quotes by Patricia Polacco More Quotes From Patricia Polacco All children have gifts, some open them at different times. Patricia Polacco different-times different children Honey is sweet, "and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book." (taken from "Thank you, Mr. Falker" ) Patricia Polacco taken sweet book You were born with the power to change others. You change people by the way you treat them. That is what changes the human heart. Patricia Polacco heart people way Grampa took Mary Ellen inside away from the crowd. "Now, child, I am going to show you what my father showed me, and his father before," he said quietly. He spooned the honey onto the cover of one of her books. "Taste," he said, almost in a whisper. . . . "There is such sweetness inside of that book too!" he said thoughtfully. "Such things...adventure, knowledge and wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them. Just like we ran after the bees to find their tree, so you must also chase these things through the pages of a book! Patricia Polacco father book children Stars are holes in the sky, they are the light of Heaven coming from the other side. Patricia Polacco stars light sky Genius is neither learned nor acquired. It is knowing without experience. It is risking without fear of failure. It is perception without touch. It is understanding without research. It is certainty without proof. It is ability without practice. It is invention without limitations. It is imagination without boundaries. It is creativity without constraints. It is...extraordinary intelligence! Patricia Polacco creativity knowing practice You’d have to go through at least four different hugs to get from the kitchen to the front room. Those relatives!’. Patricia Polacco kitchen hug different I didn't learn to read until I was almost 14 years old. Reading out loud for me was a nightmare because I would mispronounce words or reconstruct things that weren't even there. That's when one of my teachers discovered I had a learning disability called dyslexia. Once I got help, I read very well! Patricia Polacco words me learning reading Until we learn to honor and respect what other people believe, I think we are doomed. Patricia Polacco respect honor believe people Be kind to one another. You may need each other when you are older. Patricia Polacco need you be-kind may My family always encouraged my drawing ability. Kids in school who teased me about my reading would get out of their seats and stand behind my desk as I worked and go, 'Wow, you can really draw.' Later, I earned a degree in Fine Art and got a Ph.D. in Art History. Patricia Polacco me family history art Maybe one of you can enlighten me, but I just don't understand why it is so hard to be kind to one another? Patricia Polacco understand me you be-kind I used to say to my bubbe, 'Bubbe, is this story true?' And she'd say, 'Of course it's true! But it may not have happened.' What my bubbe was saying is profound: All stories are true. The truth is the journey you take through it - did it make you laugh, cry, seek and want justice? Then it's true. Patricia Polacco you journey truth justice Show me an Irishman who can't tell a story - I don't think they exist. Patricia Polacco story tell think me I don't care what color the parents are. I don't care if it's a giraffe and a fish living together. If they're raising children who believe they're honored and loved, that's all that's important. Patricia Polacco parents together believe children I lived the first five years of my life on a farm in Union City, Michigan, with my mom and grandparents. It was the most magical time of my life. Patricia Polacco my-life city time life I came from a family of incredible storytellers, but I didn't start writing children's books until I was 41 years old. Patricia Polacco start family writing children All of us have a 'voice' inside where all inspired thoughts come from. When I talk to children and aspiring writers, I always ask them to turn off the TV and listen to that voice inside them. Patricia Polacco inside thoughts voice children My books cover many aspects of daily life through which your children will recognize their own relationships in their families and communities. Patricia Polacco daily will life children My stories deal with multicultural situations as well as multigenerational settings. Patricia Polacco deal well multicultural settings