QUILT OF DREAMS

Katy lives in the mountains of Alaska, “where winter came early and stayed late.” She misses her grandmother, who died the previous summer. With the help of her mother, she resolves to finish the quilt Gram had started for her as a surprise. As Katy and her mother piece the fabric, they share memories of Grandma, and Mom recounts stories of herself as a girl, struggling with her own first quilt. Mom explains, “We are continuing a tradition by learning to quilt. Traditions are a gift from one generation to the next.” Together they finish the quilt, and seeing the pattern of flying cranes, remember how Grandma loved to watch the birds that returned with their families each year. A sentimental tale with rather too much text for the picture-book set, but potential for introducing the art. The author/illustrator here includes many pale, purple-toned scenes showing red-haired, freckled Katy, her elegant mom, a curious black cat, and clips and snips of the quilt. A sweet, rather pedantic tale of families, love, and loss. (author’s note on quilt patterns) (Fiction. 7-10)