Family Dinner Book Club: Thank You, Mr. Falker and Bookmarks Are People Too

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This month’s Family Dinner Book Club is helping draw awareness to National Dyslexia Awareness Month!  We are featuring Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco and Bookmarks Are People Too by Henry Winkler.  We hope that you’ve been enjoying reading the books with your family.  If you haven’t started to read or are just learning about Family Dinner Book Club, you still have plenty of time to participate!

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Just to review a bit… Family Dinner Book Club is a monthly book club for your family.  On the first of each month, we share the title of the book that is being featured.  Then, on the 15th of each month we share all the details for your special club dinner.  Sarah from Daisy at Home shares a special menu and table decorations to compliment the book.  And, I will share conversation starters for your special family dinner.  We invite you to share a picture from your dinner with us anytime during the month on our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page. Now, on to preparing for book club this month!

Family Dinner Book Club Books, Menu, Decorations and Conversation Starters

The Books

Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco is an extremely talented storyteller and illustrator.  Did you know that she is also dyslexic?  Thank You, Mr. Falker is a beautiful story about a young girl (Patricia Polacco) who struggled with reading in school and a caring, supporting teacher who helped her learn to read.

Bookmarks Are People Too by Henry Winkler

Do you remember The Fonz from Happy Days?  Henry Winkler (aka The Fonz) is also a children’s author who also happens to be dyslexic. Bookmarks Are People Too is the first chapter book in the Here’s Hank series.  Hank  is a second grader and dyslexic.  He struggles with memorizing things.  When his class decides to put on a play, he decides he wants the lead part.  Hank freezes up at the audition.  His teacher ends up creating a special part for him.  It may seem like an insignificant role, but when someone freezes during the performance Hank steps in and saves the day.  The text of this book is produced in a dyslexic friendly font.

Table Topics

I’m pleased to share six conversation starters to get your dinner book club rolling.  Just click on this link (Conversation Starters) for a one page PDF file that you can print and then cut apart.  Use the cards on your chosen dinner night.  You, of course, don’t have to use all of them or you may even have some other discussion points that developed while you were reading.  These are just meant to be a guide.  Happy talking!

Questions for Thank You, Mr. Falker

• Tell about a teacher who you admire.  What makes this teacher so special?
• Describe something that is challenging for you to do.  How do you feel when try to do it?
• If you were in class with Trisha, what could you have done to make her feel more comfortable?

Questions for Bookmarks Are People Too

• We all have strengths and challenges.  What were Hanks strengths and challenges?  Name one of your strengths and then name one of your challenges.
• Hank encounters a bully in the story.  Have you ever had a run in with a bully?  How did you handle it?
• Hank is dyslexic.  Do you know anyone with dyslexia.  What do you know about it?

Table Decorations and Menu

For your yummy menu and table decorations, head over to Daisy at Home.

And please snap a picture and share with us on our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook page.  We will also be talking about the book and how the club is going on the page too.  We’d love for you to join us!

We are working on planning for the future of Family Dinner Book Club.  We would love your feedback.  Please take a few moments to fill out this survey.

  Click here to take the Family Dinner Book Club Survey

Check back on November 1st to see which book we will be featuring for the new month! Is there a book you would like to see us feature this year?  Please share your ideas below in the comments on our Facebook page!

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