Tanya's Reunion [Hardcover]

Valerie Flournoy (Author), Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In this new tale about the characters from The Patchwork Quilt, Tanya visits the farm in Virginia where her grandmother grew up, to help prepare for the upcoming family reunion. Nothing on the old farm lives up to Tanya's expectations--until she learns to see the place through Grandma's eyes and opens her heart to the special adventure that awaits her there. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this tender yet unromanticized sequel to The Patchwork Quilt, young Tanya accompanies her grandmother to Virginia in preparation for a grand family reunion. But while Grandma fondly remembers growing up on the Virginia farm and is thrilled to be "home," Tanya is disappointed to see a dusty old road and a farmhouse that is "just a faded memory of its original color." Tanya grows lonely and homesick, until Grandma helps her see her family history in a new light. Flournoy's fluid text has a comforting tone and she supplies a bounty of detail without slowing the narrative. Pinkney's pencil and watercolor art skillfully conveys the bustle of activity found in a large household. He dots the crowded farmhouse interior -with quilts, books and knick-knacks, rendering the rooms as lived in and well loved. The predominance of soft brown and yellow hues also provides an almost palpable warmth throughout. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3?In this sequel to The Patchwork Quilt (Dial, 1985), Tanya accompanies Grandma to the farm where she grew up to help prepare for the big family reunion. On arrival, though, she is disappointed. Her grandmother says, "'Just open your heart to it...Can't you feel the place welcomin' ya?'" Reality continues to collide with nostalgia until the girl learns to make her own memories and finds that special moments come when you least expect them. Flournoy is a graceful writer who lets readers discover things on their own (in much the same way that Grandma lets Tanya learn her own lessons). She has a knack for portraying some of the small, everyday tensions of life, yet underneath is always a foundation of love and respect. And Pinkney's soft watercolors go perfectly with the gentle story. Comparing this book with the earlier title shows how he has developed as an artist in the past 10 years. His work is more complex, his line more deliberately sketchy, and the paintings denser with a sense of movement and life. His characters are so human?creating authentic expressions and attitudes is one of his special gifts. So is his fascination with, quite simply, the way things look: a background detail like empty jars on a shelf, for instance, demonstrates the quiet sense of wonder that permeates his work. A special, heartwarming book.?Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803716044
• ISBN-13: 978-0803716049
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,535,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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