The Bedspread [Hardcover]

Sylvia Fair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1982 | Age Level: 4 and up

A magnificent embroidered bedspread and how it comes to be is the theme of this strongly visual picture book. Artfully it explores in a fresh way the perennial interest of children in the "olden times" of a family.

Maud and Amelia are two old sisters who live at each end of a long, long bed. Although they, disagree about most things, they do agree that their plain white bedspread is the most boring feature of their boring life. So they decide to decorate it, each embroidering on it their recollection of the house in which they grew up, Maud, a fine needlewoman, remembers all her stitches: spider stitch, pineapple, bugle, buttonhole, and the others. Amelia has forgotten hers, but she remembers the happiness and excitement, the people and animals that filled the house. When finished, the bedspread is a surprise, but each treasures it in her own way.

This lovely story, which young and old can enjoy together or separately, is a rich feast of pleasure for the eye and heart.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company (February 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688008771
• ISBN-13: 978-0688008772
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 0.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Precious&Comical Point of View Story, July 7, 2002

By 

celandine (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bedspread (Hardcover)

Maud and Amelia are total opposites, except that they are both very old and cooped up together in a boring house, each on the end of an enormously long bed. Suddenly, they have a great idea: to embroider their huge white bedspread to add a little interest to their lives. Finally agreeing to sew their childhood house, they set to work, each in her own way. Amelia is prim and proper, remembering to make use of all the fancy needlework she learned years ago. Maud has forgotten exactly how to sew, but makes do creatively with old buttons, brass loops, and odds and ends of fabric. Maud's house turns into an enchanting jungle, with the ice cream man and the peacocks roosting on the roof, and plenty of crooked balconies and smoke-billowing chimneys. Amelia's is undoubtedly beautifully-stitched and wonderful to look at. In the end, the two switch sides to look at the other's work and are astounded at how differently they remembered and re-created their childhoods. I can certainly empathize with both sisters through this well-told, funny, warm-and-fuzzy story and beautiful illustrations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for discussing different learning styles, July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bedspread (Hardcover)

This is a great book to use with Learning Styles and/or Left/Right brain. The two sisters embroider a bedspread with the same ideas but the results are totally different.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On the frequent reading list, June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bedspread (Hardcover)

Simple but detailed illustrations provide a focus for discussion about the story with young readers (and listeners) while the text itself can be read on multiple levels to keep even grandparents happy. A rare find in a children's book.