The Patchwork Quilt

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

Children and adults alike can and will appreciate this one. The story is basically the story of a young girl and her relationship with her grandmother, told through the making of a quilt. It is the story of family and family love and how one generation is linked to another and how all members of a family are linked together is so many ways. The writing is beautiful and the art work in this one is beyond a doubt some of the best in this genre. For those wanting a good, touching story, a story of family, this is the one for you. This work is in particular for anyone who is dealing with a elderly loved one who will not be with them much longer. This book would also be quite fascinating to all those who love to quilt. Recommend this one highly.

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.

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!

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.