The Lemonade Club

Patricia Polacco was born in Lansing, Michigan, in 1944. She spent her early childhood on her grandparents’ farm in Union City, Michigan, a time she describes as magical and deeply influenced by her grandparents. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she split her time between her mother in Florida and California, and her father in Michigan. This experience, she notes, often finds its way into her books, featuring interactions between young people and the elderly.

She moved to Oakland, California, in 1952 and lived there for many years. Growing up, Polacco struggled with reading and math, not learning to read until she was nearly 14. She was later diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability that she now views as a different way of learning rather than a deficit. This experience has informed her advocacy for understanding learning differences.

Polacco pursued higher education, earning an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting and iconographic history. She worked as a museum consultant on icon restoration and traveled extensively in Russia and former Soviet republics. She is also involved in U.S. inner-city projects promoting conflict resolution, art, and literacy.

She began writing children’s books at the age of 41, drawing on a lifelong artistic talent and a family history of rich storytelling from her Russian, Ukrainian, and Irish heritage. Her childhood, spent without television, fostered a strong imagination. Polacco believes that listening to one’s inner voice is crucial for creativity, a message she shares with children and aspiring writers.

Now living in Union City, Michigan, on an old farm, she plans to host writing seminars, storytelling festivals, and other events celebrating children’s literature. She is the mother of two grown children, Steven and Traci.

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