The Junkyard Wonders

Book Title: The Junkyard Wonders

Author(s): Patricia Polacco

Illustrator/Photographer/Artist: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Philomel Books

Copyright Date: 2010

Genre: Realistic fiction picturebook

Brief Annotation: Trisha moves to Michigan to live with her father and to gain an opportunity to get a fresh start at a new school. She’s assigned to a classroom other kids refer to as “The Junkyard," where she meets an eclectic group of students who become her best friends. Her inspirational teacher, Mrs. Peterson, instills positive messages in the children and teaches them to believe in and value themselves. She takes them to a junkyard and challenges them to find items to invent something new. Trisha’s group works tirelessly on building an airplane that they will launch at the school science fair. An unexpected and emotional ending will touch readers and reinforce messages on the importance of looking past differences and the value of friendship.

Your Rating (1-5) and why: 5—I loved the story of Trisha and “The Junkyard Wonders” and was amazed by how many lessons and concepts Patricia Polacco touches on in her book. I especially enjoyed the last page, after the story’s conclusion, where Polacco shares with readers that the book was based on her real life experiences and updates us on what became of the group of friends known as “The Junkyard Wonders.”

Readers who will like this book: Children who have ever felt different from their peers in some way; readers who have had inspirational teachers or friends; adults wanting to instill a message of accepting and embracing differences.

Teaching Strategy from Tompkins or Yopp & Yopp (you'll link a strategy to at least 10 of your 40 books) : Character Quotes. In this activity student groups are given a few quotes from different characters and then asked to discuss the characters and share their impressions with the class. By using this strategy, “Readers can learn much about the beliefs, feelings, and personalities of characters from the voices that authors give them” (Yopp & Yopp, p. 32). Examples of powerful quotes from The Junkyard Wonders include the following: “Because we are…didn’t you notice…all of us are…different. You know…odd. Like stuff in a junkyard” (Thom); “Oh, it is a place full of wondrous possibilities! What some see as bent and broken throwaways are actually amazing things waiting to be made into something new. Something unexpected. Something surprising” (Mrs. Peterson); “It’s a beauty. I see it. We are going to rebuild it into something bigger, better…something wonderful…something that will defy gravity itself. This plane is gonna fly all the way to the moon” (Gibbie).

Question to ask about this book before a read aloud: Have you ever felt different from your classmates in some way? How did you cope with your feelings? Do you think our differences are a bad or a good thing and why?

Optional, but noted as extra effort:

1. Interest Level (age): Grades 2-5

2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 3.8

3. List awards: Rhode Island--Children’s Book Award Nominee; Tennessee--Volunteer State Book Award Nominee

4. Book trailer: None