Thunder Cake

Patricia Polacco was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944. Soon after her birth, she lived in Williamston, Michigan, and then moved onto her grandparents’ farm in Union City, Michigan. She lived on the farm with her mom and grandparents until 1949, which she describes as the most magical time of her life.

Her parents divorced when she was 3, and she spent the school year with her mother and the summers with her dad, being the apple of her grandparents’ eyes in both households. These relationships with her grandparents greatly influenced her life and work.

In 1949, she moved to Coral Gables, Florida, with her mom and brother, and then to Oakland, California, where she spent most of her young life. She attended school in Oakland, where she struggled with reading and math, not learning to read until she was almost 14 years old. She was diagnosed with dyslexia, and with the help of a teacher, she received the support she needed to succeed in school.

She went on to university, majored in Fine Art, earned a graduate degree, and a Ph.D. in Art History. She restored ancient pieces of art for museums and eventually became the mother of two children, Steven and Traci, devoting her time to their education and upbringing.

Patricia Polacco did not start writing children’s books until she was 41 years old. She came from a family of incredible storytellers, including her mother’s Ukrainian and Russian family and her father’s Irish family. At 41, she began writing down the stories she told and illustrating them with her art.

Patricia Polacco has enjoyed a wonderful career of writing books for children. She draws inspiration from her imagination, which she attributes to her storytelling background and the absence of television during her childhood.

Now residing in Union City, she intends to open her house and community, inviting people to participate in writing seminars, storytelling festivals, literature conferences, and various events that celebrate children’s literature.

Born Patricia Ann Barber in Lansing, Michigan, to parents of Russian and Ukrainian descent on one side and Irish on the other, Patricia Polacco grew up in both California and Michigan. She describes her family members as marvelous storytellers.

Studying in the United States and Australia, Patricia Polacco has earned an M.F.A. and a Ph. D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting, and iconographic history. She is a museum consultant on the restoration of icons.

The mother of a grown son and a daughter, Patricia Polacco currently resides in Michigan, where she has a glorious old farm that was built during the time of Lincoln.

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