Customer Reviews

Christmas Tapestry

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Adapting her tale from homilies she has heard author/illustrator Patricia Polacco relates a touching story of two families and two faiths brought together by chance - or, was it?

Jonathan Jefferson Weeks is an unhappy boy because his father is appointed to a new church in Detroit,Michigan, and the family has left their home in Memphis. Jonathan has never seen a place like this: the church is all but falling down and the parsonage is right next door. Now, everyone will immediately know that he's a preacher's kid!

His sister, Beth, shares his feelings, but both children try to help make the dilapidated church into a place of beauty. As autumn arrives there is a noticeable improvement. School begins, and they make new friends.

Then, after months of hard work and planning the Weeks family is looking forward to their first Christmas in their new church. They're sure it will be a beautiful and happy holiday.

What they hadn't planned on was Michigan winter weather. The worst snow storm in 25 years hits Detroit causing a leak which ruins the sacristy wall. Discouraged but still determined to make the best of things Jonathan and his father go out to buy Christmas decorations. Looking in the window of an antique shop they see a beautiful piece of cloth, just large enough to cover the stain on the wall.

But, the cloth is so much more than a lovely tapestry as is revealed by an elderly Jewish woman who is befriended by Jonathan and his father.

Patricia Polacco has given us a lovely Christmas story filled with friendship and faith.

- Gail Cooke

"There are those who say there is no balance in the universe and that all things happen randomly...without purpose. Take, for instance, one Jonathan Jefferson Weeks. He was most upset that his family came all the way from Memphis, Tennessee, when his father accepted the position of pastor at the New Baptist in Detroit. Even though their new home was on the outskirts...it was still Detroit! Nothing like Tennessee! What possible good reason could there be for leaving home and coming here?" Jonathan and his family work all summer and fall to get the church cleaned up and repaired so that it will be perfect for Christmas. But as they complete their work, ice damages the sacristy wall and plaster falls, leaving a big ugly hole. Jonathan is devastated. He just doesn't understand God's plan. First they have to leave their home and come to Detroit, and now the church is ruined after all their hard work, right before Christmas services. What else could happen? Because of the frigid cold, the car won't start the next morning, and Jonathan and his father have to take the bus into the city to pick up their holiday decorations. As they pass an old shop, Jonathan spies the most beautiful piece of cloth he's ever seen, all gold and red, perfect for covering the ugly hole in the wall. They have very little money left, but the shopkeeper says it's enough to buy the cloth. While waiting at the bus stop to go back home, father and son, with packages and the treasured Christmas tapestry, meet a lonely old woman who shares her hot tea and cookies, and tells them her sad story of love and loss..... Based on an often told homily, master storyteller, Patricia Polacco, has woven a heartwarming tale that celebrates a real, modern day Christmas miracle. Her eloquent, gentle text is filled with joy and magic, and complemented by captivating and evocative illustrations. Together word and art paint an inspiring portrait of love, faith, and the true spirit of the holiday season. Perfect for youngsters of all ages, The Christmas Tapestry makes a wonderful read aloud the entire family can share, this year, and in the many years to come. "Jonathan Jefferson Weeks thought his heart would burst at the pure joy of the season...and the wonder of all the events that had taken place. Now he knew exactly why they moved to Detroit exactly when they did. He knew why the plaster fell, why the car didn't start...why it was so bitter and cold that he and his father had shared tea with a lonely old woman. It was all so seamless, woven so perfectly..."

My 5-year-old daughter and I just picked this up by chance at the library this week and we were totally unprepared for its incredible message. So many children's books are predictable or just plain rote. This was not! I loved the messages about trusting in God's universal plan and the TRUE meaning of the season. We need to add this one to our own Christmas library!

Each year I carefully select one or two Christmas stories to add to our family library. After looking through many many books this one stood out heads and tales above the rest. Beautiful illustrations and a wonderful unexpected ending make this a tender heartwarming Christmas story. A tear jerker to be sure, but the best stories often are. A must read.

Although I read this story to my students every year, I can never get through it without choking up. Elementary through high school, all students are deeply touched by this tale. The timeless message of love portrayed by all the characters in this book is one you will never forget. It's a wonderful read-aloud, and a useful segue into discussions about the true meaning of Christmas and Hannukah.

This story is a wonderful story anytime of year. This may be my all time favorite Patricia Polacco story. It will touch your heart and leave you with a feeling of optimism and joy.

This is a very special Christmas story. It is timeless in it's message of hope and caring. It will be a story to read every Christimas with your family.

I ran across this remarkable book while searching for an appropriate Christmas book for my 8-year-old's school book report. It is not only well written, but it conveys a message of God's purpose and plan for our lives that I was delighted to share with my son. It also illustrates the role of divine providence in the lives of the Christian characters as well as the Jewish ones without compromising the beliefs of either faith. Additionally, it is a useful tool for talking about the holocaust with young people. I do not think, as another reviewer suggests, that this is too graphic for young readers. It is important for young people to learn about the evil that mankind is capable of perpetrating and to understand something about this terrible chapter in human history. Most importantly, it helps children to understand that although suffering exists in the world, there is a loving God who cares for each of us. I highly recommend "Christmas Tapestry" to anyone looking for a book that will not only touch your heart, but also facilitate a healthy spiritual discussion with your child.

Christmas Tapestry will warm the cockles of your heart, soul, and mind. I'm not sure if it's based on a true story or not, but it sure could be. It appealed to me, as a Christian, (as it would to a Jewish person) because it shows that God is in control, and He works out His purposes, even when we don't understand what's going on.

If you like these heart-tuggers, also try The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.

This is a very touching story of providential reunion after decades of separation. The story leads slowly and almost unnoticed up toward a dawning realization and then a both stunning and magnificent climax. Just passing by it here, I had to stop and leave a quick review. While most of my best books get 5 stars, this one gets 6. Well, maybe not quite 6, but no less than 5.5!