An Adventure with Ruby: Quilting in Children's Literature

 Ruby is a children's picture book by Alison Lester, a writer and illustrator from Australia.

Lester, Alison. Ruby. Houghton, Mifflin, 1987. ISBN: 978-0395464779

Ruby's mother made her a patchwork quilt when Ruby was a baby. She loves it so much that she names it "Besty" because it is her best friend. In this book, Ruby's quilt helps her have the courage to face her fear--namely, the serpent she believes lives under her bed.

 

Ruby, Besty, and the serpent

 

 

Ruby and Besty fly away one night to an island where she saves the cubs of King Vidor and Queen Zinnia from an evil serpent.

Ruby and Besty saving the cubs

In return for this act of courage, Ruby received the Blue Bird of Bravery which was sewn onto Besty by Sir Uncle Elmo.

Blue Bird of Bravery award

 

Ruby and Besty return home, and when Ruby wakes the next morning, the Blue Bird "seemed to wink at her in the morning sun."

Notice the patchwork "serpent" under the bed.

 

Ruby's and Besty's adventure in the night lends courage to the girl, and she is able to confront that scary "serpent."

Ruby dons the "serpent" and is ready to face the day. 🐍

 

In this book, the quilt represents friendship and courage--specifically the courage that results from having a true friend by your side. The illustrations are in soft, dreamy colors, and it would make a great book to read at bedtime.

 

You can find more information about Alison Lester on her website. 

 

If you would like to hear the author read the book, a video is available HERE.

A reminder--you can find my posts on Quilts in Children's Literature by clicking "Children's Literature" in the list of labels on the right-hand pane of this blog.

NOTE: I found my books used from BetterWorldBooks.com. I can highly recommend this site. Not only do they always have free shipping, but they also contribute a book to someone in need for every book you buy. I was not compensated for this recommendation--I just love doing business with them

 

Summer Sunshine

Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,

Turn this very blue quilt YELLOW!

Summer Sunshine (AKA Winter Blues designed by Bonnie Hunter)--84" x 94"

Winter Blues designed by Bonnie Hunter

 Click the photo above to buy the pattern from Bonnie's store.

When I first saw this pattern, I somehow KNEW that I had to make it in yellows. Yellow isn't my favorite color (that would be red), but it seemed just right for this.

Yellow, yellow, yellow!

My version is less scrappy than Bonnie's--I used a white-on-white swiss dot, a white-on-yellow polka dot, and a pale yellow sunshine print for the alternate blocks, and I went scrappy for the 16-patches. The border is made of scrappy string blocks (my favorite!).

My friend, Leah, did the quilting for me (Thanks so much, Leah!).

Leah took this photo that shows the quilting pattern.

Summer Sunshine (border and binding detail)

Summer Sunshine (detail)

 

I chose a sunny yellow gingham for the back and a narrow yellow stripe for the binding of this very bright quilt.

As is usual for Bonnie Hunter's writing, this was a clear and strightforward pattern that went together smoothly. It was nice to work on this cheerful quilt during the dark winter days (and the rainy spring ones!).

Happy Quilting! 😎

Pioneer History: Quilting in Children's Literature

 This book's title, The Quilt-Block History of Pioneer Days: With Projects Kids Can Make, says it all!

Cobb, Mary. The Quilt-Block History of Pioneer Days: With Projects Kids Can Make. Illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis. Millbrook, 1995. ISBN: 9781562944858

This 64-page chapter book is recommended for Grades 2-4 reading level. It has simple reference aids: Table of Contents, "For Further Reading" list, and an Index.

Each chapter has a focus and a project for kids. For example, Chapter Two is about the pioneers saying goodbye to their friends and family before moving west. The reading and accompanying illustration cover album quilt blocks: autograph blocks signed by those who stayed behind as a remembrance for the relocating family. The chapter project is a signed Quilt Block bookmark for a friend.

All of the projects are papercraft though some of them could be done in fabric as well.

Other chapters include stories of different aspects of pioneer life and the quilt blocks that the lifestyle inspired.

Chapter 4: "Building the Cabin"

Chapter 8: "Special Occasions"

Chapter 9: "Weather"

In the final chapter, the author writes," When I look at a map of our country, I like to think it resembles a gigantic patchwork quilt sewn together by the brave pioneers" (58). The structure of the book reinforces that idea.

The illustrations are fairly simple and bright, and they fit well with the text. The illustrated page of quilt blocks that accompanies each chapter is clear, accurate, and well-labeled, as you can see in the images I have included above.

This book covers the history of the American pioneer, as well as the ideas/stories/events behind common quilt blocks. The projects use common everyday materials, so they are accessible for most readers, and they add fun to the learning experience.

Happy Quilting! 😸

 

A reminder--you can find my posts on Quilts in Children's Literature by clicking "Children's Literature" in the list of labels on the right-hand pane of this blog.

NOTE: I found my books used from BetterWorldBooks.com. I can highly recommend this site. Not only do they always have free shipping, but they also contribute a book to someone in need for every book you buy. I was not compensated for this recommendation--I just love doing business with them.

ABC and 123--Quilting in Children's Literature

Two staples of children's picture books are alphabet and counting books. They can include illustrations from any subject--including quilting!

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Quilt Alphabet. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. Holiday House, 2001.  ISBN: 978-0823417650

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. Quilt Counting. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. SeaStar, 2002. ISBN: 978-1587171772

Lesa Cline-Ransome and her husband, James E. Ransome created this pair of books that use quilts to teach basic alphabet and number concepts. Cline-Ransome has written many books including the Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner, Finding Langston. James E. Ransome is a prolific illustrator and winner of numerous awards including the Coretta Scott King Award for The Creation by James Weldon Johnson. 

 

Quilt Alphabet is a book of poetic riddles. Each page has (or in some cases, full spreads have) a letter, a poem, and an illustration.

Quilt Alphabet: P & Q spread

Readers can use the clues to deduce the word that starts with the indicated letter. The answers to each letter can be found on the last page.

Quilt Alphabet: Answers to clues

The lovely endpapers continue the quilt theme.

Quilt Alphabet: Endpapers

The second book, Quilt Counting, uses numbers to tell the story of the creation of a quilt. It begins in a farmhouse with three generations of a family who create a quilt featuring themes of the farm. The pages count upward from 1-10, then downward back to "one quilt." The upward counting uses illustrations of the necessary tools for making a quilt.

 

Quilt Counting: #8 spread

Quilt Counting: #9 & #10 spread

 

 The downward counting features farm themes captured in the quilt.

Quilt Counting: #4 spread

Quilt Counting: #1 spread (notice the sunflower in the quilt)

Quilt Counting also has a short "Note About Quilts" at the end that shares a bit of history of the quilting tradition.

Both of these are engaging books with beautiful illustrations. In future blog posts, we will see more from James E. Ransome; he has illustrated several children's book that share the theme of quilts.

Happy Quilting! 😸

A reminder--you can find my posts on Quilts in Children's Literature by clicking "Children's Literature" in the list of labels on the right-hand pane of this blog.

NOTE: I found my books used from BetterWorldBooks.com. I can highly recommend this site. Not only do they always have free shipping, but they also contribute a book to someone in need for every book you buy. I was not compensated for this recommendation--I just love doing business with them