Patricia Polacco is the author and illustrator of at least 39 books.

Introduce Patricia Polacco by reading her biography to the class. It can be found at the link below.

• Patricia Polacco Web Site http://www.patriciapolacco.com/12-07-02/html/_author_info/bio/bio.html

• Display a poster of Patricia Polacco with a variety of her books. Read the introduction in The Keeping Quilt which explains the author/illustrator’s ethnic background.

Display many books written by Patricia Polacco such as the Keeping Quilt, Thunder Cake, Chicken Sunday. (You will need 2 for each group.)

• Picture walk through the Keeping Quilt.  Ask students what they think is very important to the story. How can they tell?
• Read the book aloud to the students. Discuss the technique used in the Keeping Quilt of giving color only to items which are very important to the story.  
• Discuss items that children have from their families. Have students draw a black and white picture of their family displaying the item. Only the item should have color. All other areas of the illustration should be done with pencil or black marker.

Patricia Polacco has written many stories about families. 

• Before beginning this lesson, discuss cloth patterns with the students. Discuss how people sometimes have special fabric patterns they enjoy. Display a photo of Kente cloth, Polka Dotted fabric, plaid kilts etc. 
• Ask students to bring in a family photo that includes patterned cloth.  Take a picture walk through Thunder Cake, having students surmise the story through the illustrations.  Point out the way Patricia Polacco displays fabric patterns in the story illustrations.
• Read Thunder Cake with the students. Ask students to name something that scares them.  How many children are frightened by thunder and lightning? What do they do when they are afraid?  Could making a Thunder Cake help them?  Why do they think this technique worked for the girl in the story? 
• Examine the illustrations in Thunder Cake.  How did Patricia Polacco show the stormy sky? How did Patricia Polacco draw the cloth used in the clothing? 
• (Scan student photos, enlarge them, and print on 8.5 x 11 paper in gray scale.)  Students us markers to trace and color patterns in the photos. If students have photos with no patterns or very few, they can add them using their markers.

• Divide students into groups. I recommend groups of 4.
• Each group should select 2 Patricia Polacco books from those on display to read with their group.
• Group members discuss the book and decide what to put on a quilt square to represent the book. 
• Students plan their quilt squares on white drawing paper.
• After groups have created their plan, distribute 2 squares of felt to each group. Have a variety of colors of felt, patterned fabrics and other craft supplies such as scissors and craft glue available for students. Students should work together to create a quilt square representing each of the 2 books. 
• Allow more than one class period for students to read and create the quilt squares. *Students should draw their quilt square before beginning the work with the cloth.

• Students invite their families to a quilt unveiling.
• Families are encouraged to wear a favorite cloth pattern.  (Stripes, plaids, paisley, kente colors, polka dots etc.)
• Student groups explain which books they read and point out their quilt square illustrations.
• Thunder Cake is served as a refreshment.

Resources

• Meet Patricia Polacco
• Patricia Polacco’s web site.
• Kids Read – Patricia Polacco
• Reading is Fundamental – Meet Patricia Polacco
• Scholastic -Patricia Polacco’s Biography
• Patricia Polacco Web Site