MOOSHKA, A QUILT STORY

Like the beautiful quilt showcased on glowing endpapers and throughout this tale, a preschooler’s active imagination (probably) and an exciting (or not) addition are pieced together with family stories to create a new-baby/favorite-blanket story that’s likely to become an old favorite.

Karla loves her quilt, which she calls Mooshka. Mooshka comforts her on cold and scary nights and, at least according to Karla, can talk. Whether Mooshka is actually magical is left open to interpretation. It’s possible, after all, that the vignettes of earlier activities (mom’s jump from a cherry tree or an aunt’s turn as a fortune-teller) are actually memories based on conversations with Karla’s grandmother as she sewed the quilt and shared family history. And maybe Mooshka’s fondness for pancakes simply reflects Karla’s early-morning cravings. Bordered in rectangles and triangles of vibrant patterns in a kaleidoscope of colors, both text and illustrations carry Paschkis’ plot. Indeed, young listeners may be as disconcerted as Karla at the appearance of a baby sister, but careful examination of an earlier picture reveals a hint of things to come. After initial, if mild, hostility, Karla finds it in her heart to comfort little Hannah by sharing both Mooshka and the story of her own contribution.

Vivid artwork, a lively, endearing heroine and a warm, loving look at a pivotal experience give this one classic potential.