TITLE: Junkyard Wonders
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: This book was written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco.
GENRE: Fiction Picture Book
THEME: Being different or unique does not stop one from accomplishing goals.
AWARDS: n/a
CHARACTERS: younger Trisha, Gibby, Jody, Stuart, Ravanne, Mrs. Peterson
PUBLISHING DATE AND COMPANY: Philomel, 20120.
SUMMARY: This story is told from the perspective of a young Patricia Polacco. After moving away from her old school because of ridicule, "Trisha" encounters the same feeling at her new school. However, in the "Junkyard Wonders" class (the special education classroom), she finds an excellent group of friends. The teacher, Mrs. Peterson, splits them into tribes where the students become great friends. Mrs. Peterson shows them why they are "Junkyard Wonders" and that they can accomplish any goal they set. Through a sad turn of events, the "vanilla" tribe becomes closer than ever and attempts to accomplish their goals together, despite what others try to tell them. This story is excellent for a classroom in order to show diversity. With inclusion being such a popular strategy, it is vital to explain to students that "different" is not weird, that it is okay and should accepted as everything else is.
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