"I come from a family of storytellers," says children's author Patricia Polacco. She has turned many of her family's stories into best-selling books. Her latest, Betty Doll (Philomel Books), is a tribute to her mother. When Polacco's mom was young, she made a doll-"Betty Doll." After her mom died, Polacco discovered the doll and a letter her mother had written about it.

Daily News from TIME for Kids

April 20, 2001 World Report