The Canada Geese Quilt [Hardcover]

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock (Author), Leslie W. Bowman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Worried that the coming of a new baby and her grandmother's serious illness will change the warm familiar life on her family's Vermont farm, ten-year-old Ariel combines her artistic talent with her grandmother's knowledge to make a very special quilt.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In one gorgeous, slim volume, Kinsey-Warnock tells a story of a particular time, from spring to fall, in a 10-year-old's life. Ariel loves the Vermont farm where she lives with her parents and grandmother, and wonders about the changes that a new baby in the house will bring to their lives. Then her grandmother suffers a stroke, and Ariel is haunted by the feeling that nothing and no one is safe. But when Ariel's parents realize that the old woman has given up on her recovery, it is Ariel who re-engages her grandmother in the business of living, helping her sew a quilt that Ariel has designed for the new baby. Kinsey-Warnock's language is simple and direct as it conveys both the loving relationship between the old woman and the girl, and the girl's love of the land. Ariel revels in her surroundings, and her mood is infectious; the thrill of the geese migrating is movingly expressed. Bowman's realistic black-and-white illustrations depict highlights of the story, but never try to evoke the landscapes suggested by the text, or the beauty of the two geese quilts. Wisely, she leaves such moments to readers' imaginations, and so her work appears like sustaining chords beneath the melody of the text. Ages 9-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

The spring brings many changes to ten-year-old Ariel's life. The prospect of a new baby in the house leaves her feeling strange and left out. But Grandma knows how to make Ariel feel a part of things. Together, secretly, they will make a beautiful quilt as a special gift for the baby. Then Grandma suffers a stroke, and Ariel is left lost and afraid. Determined to complete their gift, Ariel struggles to piece the quilt together. But will that inspire her grandmother to get better and share in her efforts? Little does Ariel know her grandmother has a secret gift planned just for her, a gift that will wrap Ariel in the warmth and love of family. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 60 pages
• Publisher: Cobblehill Books/Dutton; 1st edition (September 5, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525650040
• ISBN-13: 978-0525650041
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,076,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book dealing with changes in family relationships, July 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Canada Geese Quilt (Paperback)

I am teaching my 10 year old daughter to quilt. She found this book in the "Accelerated Reader's Program" at school and read it because it had quilt in the title. We read two chapters every evening and we loved every page! It was hard to wait for the next evening to arrive so we could read the next chapters. This is a story about a young girl with many changes in her life. Her mother is expecting another child and her Grandmother comes to live with them. The girl loves to draw ane her Grandmother asks her to draw a picture so she can make the new baby a quilt.Many changes occur within the family because of the pregnancy and then serious health problems for the Grandmother after the quilt is started. The story revolves around the young girls struggles with the changes and who will finish the new baby's quilt. A great book to read with a warm and believable ending.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book about how families change., October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Canada Geese Quilt (Hardcover)

Ten-year old Ariel's best friend is her grandmother. After her grandmother suffers a stroke, Ariel is afraid of this woman who has lost the will to live. With her help, her grandmother begins to walk and talk again, and Ariel gains a new understanding of the 'knowledge' that is passed on through the generations.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars --Well done and charming story--, February 11, 2006

By 

Judith Miller (Bluemont, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Canada Geese Quilt (Hardcover)

A library search of quilting information produced this book. I was actually looking for a quilt instruction book. and didn't realize that it was an actual story until after I requested the title from the library. I was initially disappointed because it was not what I was expecting. but since I was intrigued by the title, I read the little book.

THE CANADA GEESE QUILT takes place after World War II in Vermont. The main character is Ariel, a 10-year-old girl who loves being outside and has a natural talent for drawing. She lives on a farm along with her parents and her grandmother. Grandma is a lively lady and a gifted quilter. People around the country and even the world have purchased her wonderful quilts. Ariel shares a lot with her Grandma except for one thing. Ariel hates to sew.

The story begins with Ariel watching the sky as the geese return from colder areas up north. It's one of her delights to see the large flocks of geese in flight. This is also a time of change for the family because they will have a new baby in the fall. Ariel has mixed feelings about the baby and her Grandma decides that the two of them should make a quilt to welcome the little one. Ariel draws the design and her Grandma does all of the sewing.

All is going well until the old lady has a stroke and after weeks in the hospital, she returns home. Grandma can barely speak and when she does, it's hard to understand her. She must now use a cane to support herself when she walks. Ariel doesn't know what to say and even how to act with this lady who is like a shell of her real Grandma. Over time, Grandma and Ariel reach an understanding and decide that they must get back to the quilt, but since her grandmother can't even hold a needle, Ariel must now finish sewing the quilt.

Growing up can be frightening for children when they are faced with all of the changes that come with life. This gentle story handles two situations in a warm and loving way.