Review
"Polacco has a gift for turning her own family stories into picture books that can touch the hearts of all.
History, religious persecution, immigration, and the skeins of faith and love that connect a family are all knit together in this powerful, accessible and deeply affecting story." Kirkus Reviews, starred review (Kirkus Reviews)
In this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polacco’s great grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman (“This tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God,” says Anna’s mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the family’s traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her family’s low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set and—in a link to the earlier book—the babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 4–8. (Aug.) (Publishers Weekly)
"The importance of family is the underlying message of the book; it will be best delivered by an adult who can explain some of the history that drives the action. Polacco’s touching yet restrained storytelling, paired with her evocative illustrations, makes The Blessing Cup an excellent addition to any collection."– School Library Journal (School Library Journal)
"The Keeping Quilt (1988) began with Polacco’s great grandmother Anna’s arrival in America. In this sort of prequel, Anna and her family are forced to leave Russia during the pogroms. The understated telling is beautifully supported and extended in art that harks back to Polacco’s early books. The illustrations are rendered in soft gray pencil. Backgrounds are roughly yet adroitly sketched, while faces and body language are particularly expressive, and panoramic views of the shtetl are lively with detail. A few strategic features draw the eye with brilliant red and blue: small accents such as the tea set and Anna’s headscarf; once, a double page spread of the village temple in flames. This is family history at its dramatic and iconic best, a well shaped story and a fine addition to Polacco’s oeuvre." The Horn Book (The Horn Book)
About the Author
Patricia Polacco belongs to a family of storytellers, poets, farmers, teachers, and artists. They came from many parts of the world, but mainly Russia. She grew up to be an illustrator, a designer, and creator of many beloved children’s books, including The Keeping Quilt, The Blessing Cup, Fiona’s Lace, The Trees of the Dancing Goats, Babushka’s Doll, My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother, and Sticks and Stones. She lives in Union City, Michigan. Visit her at PatriciaPolacco.com and follow her on Facebook.
From School Library Journal
Gr 1-4–This book is a prequel to The Keeping Quilt (S & S, 1988), but readers do not need to have read the first book to enjoy it. The entrancing charcoal illustrations soften the bittersweet story and will delight young readers as they follow the brightly colored “Blessing Cup” through pages of black and white. Polacco tells an autobiographical story, tracing the origins of a special teacup from the hands of her great-grandmother in Russia to the possession of her own children today. In telling the story of the cup, the author touches on the plight of Jewish people in Russia during the early 1900s, bringing to light the terror of the pogroms as seen through the eyes of Polacco's great-grandmother as a girl. The importance of family is the underlying message of the book; it will be best delivered by an adult who can explain some of the history that drives the action. Polacco's touching yet restrained storytelling, paired with her evocative illustrations, makes The Blessing Cup an excellent addition to any collection.–Nora Clancy, Teachers College Community School, New York Cityα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
--This text refers to the
hardcover edition.
This prequel to The Keeping Quilt (1988) recounts the story of great-grandmother Anna’s childhood exodus from czarist Russia to America. The family brings along a precious tea set (“Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God”), hoping it will bring them good luck. When Papa falls ill from cold and exhaustion, a kindly doctor takes them in, nursing Papa back to health and eventually buying the whole family passage to America. In gratitude, they give him the tea set, keeping only one “blessing cup” for themselves. Polacco is a master storyteller, and this heartwarming tale of hardship and the importance of family does not disappoint. The charcoal illustrations are accented with splashes of vibrant color that allow readers to follow the tea set and Anna’s babushka along the journey. An afterword explains how the real cup broke in half during the 1989 California earthquake, enabling Polacco to pass along a part of this heirloom to both of her children. This tale stands alone, but fans will cherish this addition to the Polacco canon. Grades 1-3. --Kay Weisman
--This text refers to the
hardcover edition.
![The Blessing Cup by [Patricia Polacco]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dSotIfzmL._SX260_.jpg)
