Customer Reviews

Patchwork Quilt (Picture Storybooks)

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I have read this book many times and as an educator I can not say enough good things about the book. "The Patchwork Quilt" has great illustrations, touches on multiculturalism b/c of the people included in the story, does not exclude other cultures b/c the book is also about family, confronts dealing with death in a healthy manner, and is easily a lead-in to an art lesson. This book can lead to discussions on family, death, and classroom community (each student makes a patch representing themself and bind them together to make a classroom quilt)! :) Have fun and educate with this book!

Valerie Flournoy, Author. Jerry Pinkney, Illustrator. THE PATCHWORK QUILT 29 pp. Dial Books for Young Readers 1985

Tanya's grandmother had begun to make a patchwork quilt using scraps from old shirts, Halloween costumes, and any other materials that had meaning to them. Tanya was so interested in how her grandmother so carefully cut pieces of material and sewed them together so she spent much of her time watching and helping her grandmother produce this "masterpiece." On Christmas morning, Grandma becomes sick and is no longer able to work on finishing the quilt. With the help of her mother, Tanya takes it upon herself to help finish the quilt for her grandmother. Finally, when Grandma is able to begin working on the quilt again, she finishes it by stitching on the last square, which reads, "For Tanya From your Mama and Grandma."

This story is not necessarily about any one culture in particular. This story line could take place in any culture. However, all of the characters in the book are African-American. There are no specific references in the book to African-Americans, however this is a situation in where the illustrations play a major role in the story. The story probably would be read the same; regardless of the race of the characters; however, the multicultural characters help the readers get a grasp on the many different cultures that surround them.

The story starts out with Tanya recovering from a bad cold, setting restlessly on the chair by the kitchen window, and anxious to go outside. Since her mom won't let her go out yet, she decides to go talk to her grandma. Grandma was setting in her favorite chair with a pile of worn scraps of material that appeared to be dirty old rags to Tanya. Tanya soon finds out that these dirty old scraps could become a thing of great beauty and an expression of great love. She and her grandma set out on a growing adventure building this wonderful patchwork quilt, but only after Grandma explains the difference in a store bought quilt and a patchwork quilt. The project grows and before long is a family project that continuos through the Christmas holiday with Mama sewing and Grandma cutting. Only once did Mama put it aside and that was to make a special gold Christmas dress. Tanya knew where those special scraps would go as well. Then Grandma got sick. The quilt was about half finished. Tanya feared it would never be finished. Grandma's masterpiece lay neatly folded and waiting. This saddened the family and before you know it, they were all working on it. Jim even picked up the blue material from his own clothing and started cutting scraps. The family worked and remembered. It took a whole year for the quilt to be completed. At last the last square was attached. Grandma, Tanya and the whole family was very proud and excited as they thought back. It was decided that this quilt would make a very special gift for someone very special. The right hand corner of the last row holds the secret of who. You'll have to read the book for all the fun and the secret of who gets the quilt. I loved it! It is a very special book and one of my favorites. I think it is an asset to my library and will be to anyone else's.

This review was written by Miss Lee's 3rd/4th multiage class in St. Louis, Missouri:

Several of us in Miss Lee's class didn't like this story because it was boring and easy to predict. This group usually likes mystery or adventure stories, so we found the Patchwork Quilt to be very straightforward. We rated this story at about one or two stars.

The other people in our class really enjoyed the book, because it talked about spending time with your family. We liked it because the author wrote a story that could have been set in any country or culture. The story was so good that we would give it four or five stars.

The other day a teacher came into the library where I work and explained to me that she was doing a unit with her kids on quilting. She already had some non-fiction titles on the subject, but what she really wanted was picture books that talked about the craft. Immediately I thought of "Show Way" by Jacqueline Woodson, "Goha the Wise Fool", by Denys Johnson-Davies (a quilted picture book), "Oma's Quilt" by Paulette Bourgeois, "Tar Beach" by Faith Ringgold (another quilted picture book), and "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" by Deborah Hopkinson. But even before any of these book jumped to my mind, before I'd even stopped to consider a one of them, there was a book that I thought of first. "The Patchwork Quilt" by Valerie Flournoy is (I would dare say) the best-known quilting picture book of them all. A winner of the Coretta Scott King Award and the very first winner of the prestigious Ezra Jack Keats Books Award, this 1985 production and Reading Rainbow Book has remained a classic well past the time when most book lie on shelves forgotten.

Grandma has an idea. When she was a little girl her own mother made her a beautiful patchwork quilt. Now Tanya, her granddaughter, is showing some interest in Grandma's quilting. Therefore, she's going to make a quilt of her own. A "masterpiece" is what it's going to be. So when any family member has a special outfit made or has to get rid of a beloved set of pants, Grandma's always there, handy with the scissors. Slowly everyone in the family gets his or herself added to the quilt, until one day Grandma gets sick. There her quilt sits on the back of her old chair, gathering dust. Fortunately, Tanya knows she can take charge. Her mother agrees to do the sewing and Tanya cuts fabric. Even her brothers get in on the act. Soon enough Grandma is well again, the quilt is finished, and everyone is now a part of it.

Flournoy has written a book that has a great deal of dignity to it. The words are not necessarily easy ones, but they come off as natural when written on the page. Flournoy sets up emotional plot points, like Tanya's mother coming to accept why the quilt is really important. Grandma's recovery, I should point out, isn't presented as something miraculous or out of place. It works within the framework of the narrative. There's really only one moment in the plot that gave me pause. When Tanya starts working on the quilt herself, she feels that there's a piece that's definitely missing. She ponders and ponders this until finally she realizes what that piece might be. Grandma. Grandma is missing from the quilt. So while Grandma is asleep Tanya sneaks into her room, goes to the old patchwork quilt under which her grandmother sleeps, and then proceeds to cut it up without asking anyone for permission. I don't know about you, but if I woke up and found that my quilt had been lovingly vandalized in this way I might get a little bit tetchy. Tanya never gets in trouble for it since her motives were pure. Still, it's an odd little addition. I mean, couldn't she at least have asked permission?

Jerry Pinkey, artist extraordinaire, was the man responsible for the illustrations. I'm not a huge fan of his work, but he does a lovely job with this book. The quilt looks very real. My grandmother made me one back that was very similar to the one presented on the cover. I'll admit right here and now that since this book was written in 1985, it's swimming in nostalgia for me. I love the 80s hair and clothes that people wear in it. From Grandma's gigantic glasses to Mama's shirt/vest combinations and shoulder pads, children of the eightiese will find themselves swimming in memories. Remember polo shirts that had collars that were different colors from the fabric of the shirt themselves? Remember shirts that had ruffles for no particular reason at all? It's all here. But for kids, this won't serve as a distraction since they won't recognize the era. Plus, Pinkney cleverly included some dated elements, but not a lot. If I didn't point out to you that it was written over 20 years ago, you might never notice it yourself.

The children who grew up with this book are having kids of their own these days. I dare say that for some, "The Patchwork Quilt" will be the first title they purchase for their children and the children of their friends. Arresting and emotional without playing those same emotions for cheap, Florunoy's book is her best known work. If you should be particularly fond of it, be sure to check out its sequel, "Tanya's Reunion", written ten years later. A necessary read.

Many children's books come and go but this one is a keeper. It is a mainstay in my classroom. Tanya learns from her grandmother that a quilt can tell a life story. The making of the quilt brings her whole family closer. I have my students make construction paper quilts after reading this story--this is something parents can do with their children at home. Good companion book: Luka's Quilt. Luka's Quilt is also about a grandmother and grandchild and the making of a quilt.

As pre-service teachers, we thought this book would be wonderful to have in our future classrooms. The story is culturally rich, and provides strong family values. Though the story featured an African-American family, there was no bias to it, and any culture would have fit in the story.We enjoyed learning about the family quilt, and all the stories that can be told with the fabrics that are woven within. You could easily have the children relate this to their own families, and integrate an activity in which the students make their own patch and write a story about it.The only downfall is that younger students may find this story a little slow or confusing, as it deals with the sickness of a Grandmother, and may be a touchy subject. Overall, we thought this book was a must-have for most Elementary classrooms.

Growing up, I remember reading The Patchwork Quilt in my classroom library so when I stumbled upon it again about fifteen years later, it definitely brought me to compare my feelings about it then as a child and now as an adult. To be honest, as a child, I didn't like the book that much because I didn't feel that I could relate to the story, no one in my family quilted and I had never experienced death at that age.

Now that I read it as an adult, I see so many avenues that this book can be lead to and the importance of leading young readers to make connections with the books they read. Not to mention, that the illustrations are beautifully crafted and the details create a sense of home and comfort to the story. The Patchwork Quilt could also be used as a way to introduce lessons about different family structures, cultures, an art lesson that allows students to make their own quilts, and so many other possibilities! Overall, The Patchwork Quilt is a beautiful story that touches upon many different topics such as family and culture as well as introducing the tough topic of death.

This picture book is beautifully illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and reminds children that elders are to be loved and respected and that memories are to be cherished. Tanya, the main character in the book is intrigued by a project her grandmother is working on, making a patchwork quilt. Tanya's mother is a bit put out by the mess and the rest of the family simply won't be bothered with it. But as Tanya's aging grandmother becomes ill, Tanya begins to help pick up the project where her grandmother left off. In time, the entire family gets involved. The quilt, which includes scraps from each member of the family becomes an important project for everyone involved.
This story encourages young readers to appreciate fine craftsmanship and acts of love, as well as respect for elders.

~DeeDee Fox, Author of The Ruby Red Slippers

The Patchwork Quilt, by Valerie Flournoy, is about a girl named Tanya and her grandma who is making a quilt. Tanya went to chat with Grandma. Her grandma was working in the living room, making a patchwork quilt. She talked about when she was little girl her mom made a quilt. Tanya was inspired, so she wanted to make a quilt. Tanya wants to help Grandma finish the quilt. "Grandma's quilt takes care of her'' Tanya told mama. Grandma told Tanya a quilt tells your biography. Tanya told grandma "The quilt misses you". While grandma was ill, Tanya started to make the quilt for her. Later, grandma was better and the quilt was done. Then, she showed the quilt to everybody in the house. Tanya saw at the corner it says "from: grandma and mamma to: Tanya."

Tanya is a helpful and a caring person. When grandma got the cold, Tanya got the quilt and started doing it for. As soon as grandma told Tanya about the quilt, Tanya cared for the quilt. Grandma and Tanya are very caring to each other and to the quilt. When the quilt was finished the quilt the grandma felt happy. Tanya said "Your quilt misses you too, grandma." This book reminds readers to care about family.

By Abi