Spotlight on Patricia Polacco

Patricia Polacco belongs to a family of storytellers, poets, farmers, teachers, and artists. They came from many parts of the world, but mainly Russia. She grew up to be an illustrator, a designer, and creator of many beloved children’s books, including The Keeping Quilt, The Blessing Cup, Fiona’s Lace, The Trees of the Dancing Goats, Babushka’s Doll, My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother, Sticks and Stones, and Palace of Books. She lives in Union City, Michigan. 

Q: Your newest picture book, The Bravest Man in the World, is inspired by Wallace Hartley, a musician playing to quell fears as the Titanic sank. How did you come across Wallace’s story? What was it about his experiences that moved you to share them?

I have always been fascinated by the musicians who played to ease the panic of the passengers, certainly knowing their own lives were over. In the films of the Titanic, Wallace Hartley is always mentioned by name as the leader of the musicians. So that has always been at the back of my mind. I often wondered why no one had chosen to feature the musicians as the heroes that they were. What actually made me concentrate on this story was a program on either the history channel or national geographic that featured the long journey of Wallace Hartley ’s violin from the time of the sinking until it was rediscovered recently as belonging to him. Apparently when the Titanic sank, his violin and the valise it was housed in were immediately recovered and taken aboard the Carpathia. Mr. Hartley’s body was not found until three weeks later. According to this program, the violin was returned to England, but no one knew it was his instrument. I think at one point it was returned to his fiancé before it languished in a closet for years and years, and was even used by the salvation army band until it was discovered to be Hartley’s violin because of the inscription on the silver stave that was dedicated to his fiancé. So this peaked my interest not only in his violin, but also in him, becoming the inspiration that caused this story to come to mind.

Q: What were you most surprised to learn about Wallace?

I was surprised by the fact that he was so young.

Q: How did your experiences growing up in a family of storytellers impact your career as a children’s book author and illustrator?

When you are raised by storytellers, you are pretty much destined to be one yourself. Our evenings were spent listening to the stories of my elders. We did not own a television. It was their tales and their beautiful imaginations that not only entertained us but instructed us about our culture—both the countries my family originated from as well as their customs and habits.

Q: What are some of your favorite children’s books?

Anything Dr. Seuss wrote. Horton Hatches the Egg is my all-time favorite children’s book. Wanda Gag’s Millions of Cats was a favorite of mine as well. But I was also raised on the stories of Hans Christian Anderson, The Brothers Grimm, as well as Russian Classics.