STORY RUG

Craftsmanship and memories form the basis for a new kind of classroom tale.

When a new fad hits Class 203 at Margaret Bennett Elementary School, the students begin braiding anything and everything: hair, shoelaces, the tails of toy ponies. Pale-skinned, ruddy-cheeked Noah finds himself without anything on hand, so his sympathetic teacher tears up some rags for him. After his dad shows him how to sew the braided strips together, Noah proceeds to make a longer and longer braid, inspiring his classmates to do the same. Soon kids are contributing pieces of fabric laden with personal significance, sewing strips together until the braid “stretches all the way down the hallway from room 203 to room 201 and back again.” The question of what to do with the braid is soon answered as Noah begins coiling it. Eventually, the class creates a beautiful storytime rug made of fabric that represents the children’s memories. Wahl’s art, which features both digital and collaged elements, depicts a diverse classroom as well as an array of eclectic colors and patterns found on rugs, clothing, and even books. Aside from Noah’s initial pensiveness, this story contains little conflict. What it may lack in drama, however, it makes up for in deep and abiding comfort.

Braids together the personal and the communal—and will hopefully inspire real classrooms to follow suit.