We have read and studied many of Patricia Polacco's books. To date we have read The Junkyard Wonders, The Keeping Quilt, My Rotten Red Headed Older Brother, Thank You, Mr. Falker, Chicken Sunday and Pink and Say. Look at some of the standards we have worked on through our author study. 

4. RL. 1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

5.RL. 1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

4.RL.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

5.RL.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

4.RL.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).

5.RL.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact). 

Check out this website to see an interview with Patricia Polacco- http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/polacco