Oma's Quilt

Rating:
Summary: The colors of her life
Review: Picture books that examine the relationships between children and elderly adults are nothing new. They can range from the insipid "Baby Duck" books to the eloquent and insightful "Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge". "Oma's Quilt" is a little different than other kid + senior citizen stories partly because its focus rests squarely on the adult and not on the child. Tackling a subject that more and more adults must face every year, "Oma's Quilt" shows what it takes to make a new home a familiar one.

Emily's grandmother (or "Oma") is moving from her house into a retirement community. The reader gets the distinct impression that this was not Oma's idea and she's not especially keen to leave. After all, she's lived in her house for most of her lifetime. When Emily and her mother go to the Forest View Retirement Home, Oma is not very receptive. She thinks the food is odd, the bed uncomfortable, and the other people in the home "nincompoops". Sensing that the transition is probably going to need a little work, Emily and her mother try to figure out a way to help Oma. Yet it isn't until they sort through the woman's old clothes that Emily comes up with a brilliant solution. Why not make a quilt out of all the old fabrics for Oma to use and remember with? Together, they make one and Oma is delighted. On it she's able to point out the moments of her life that meant the most to her and to pass them on to her kin. By the end, Oma still thinks the other residents are nincompoops, but she's started helping in the kitchen and her old friend Mrs. Mostowyk may be moving in soon. Things are looking up.

I found it odd that the story gave so little attention to Emily's thoughts and feelings. Heck, we hear more about how her mom feels about Oma's bad mood (at one point she's on the brink of tears) than we do about Emily. For those kids that are close to their grandparents, however, this book may be much loved. Personally, I was a little put off by Oma's overwhelmingly bad mood, but it only lasts (at its worst) for a couple pages and she's cheery enough by the end. I certainly did appreciate that by the tale's finish, Oma hadn't suddenly undergone some kind of a spellbinding conversion to retirement home wonders. Instead, she still dislikes her neighbors but is beginning to become comfortable with other aspects of her new life. The story is a focused patient exploration of what it takes to make another person happy. In this case, it takes a wealth of memories.

The illustrations in this story work beautifully. Oma's a shrewd woman with a penchant for bright colorful prints, extravagant hats, and saddleshoes. Using pen and watercolors, illustrator Stephane Jorisch brings a great deal of life and verve to the tale. Emotions are well displayed here. When Oma sits hunched in her armchair complaining about the flowers in the hallway and the home's funky smelling bowling shoes she's every bit the cantankerous grandmother. But I think my favorite spread shows Oma, her daughter, and her granddaughter leaning on the new glorious quilt. As we watch, the quilt is filled with an array of colorful, shifting, melding memories. A married couple walks towards a large city while opposite them a man pushes a baby carriage. It's an impressive array and it sums up the state of Oma's mind perfectly.

If you've a kid that will enjoy a story about a grandmother and not, in fact, that woman's grandchild then this story is for you. It's definitely worth a look see. I advise you to examine it thoroughly and figure out if it's worth your time. Personally, I thought it was nice without being particularly universal. Those children that don't have grandparents may not identify with the tale intrinsically. Otherwise, it rivals the aforementioned "Wilfrid Gorden McDonald Partridge"'s attention to the importance of memory (though of the two I cast my lot with "Wilfrid"). Enjoy.


Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story about Loving Your Grandmother
Review: This is a wonderful story about a young girl's Oma who is moving into a retirement home. It shows how hard it can be for her grandmother moving from the home she's known for so long, and trying to adjust to her new surroundings. It teaches a lot of empathy for the elderly, but without being preachy. My own daughter calls her grandparents "Oma" and "Opa" (German for Grandmother and Grandfather) and although her Oma isn't quite read for retirement yet, and doesn't make cabbage soup and strudel, it really helped bring the story to life for her. Every child can probably find a bit of their own grandparents in the story. The illustrations are as excellent as the story.