The Patchwork Quilt

Rating:
Summary: Covers it all book! - Multicultural/Family/Art/Death
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A very enjoyable multicultural children's book.
Review: 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.