Luka's Quilt

by Georgia Guback

Luka and her grandmother Tutu are best friends until Luka shows her disappointment at the traditional Hawaiian quilt that Tutu makes for her. Tutu is hurt, Luka is upset, and things just aren't the same anymore. But when Lei Day comes, the two set aside there differences to enjoy the holiday. "Guback's storytelling proves as affable as her bright, intricate cut-paper collages." -- Publishers Weekly.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Friendship, Quilting

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl is disappointed in the traditional Hawaiian quilt her Tutu (grandmother) makes for her...but soon learns that there are bonds that we weave through generations that are more important than any single item, no matter how lovingly that item is created. A beautiful story about the ties that bind from generation to generation.

[529_Quincy Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luka’s Quilt was written and illustrated by Georgia Guback. The story is about a young Hawaiian girl named Luka and her grandmother (Tutu). Tutu decides to make a quilt for her granddaughter Luka. Luka wanted a quilt that was full of colors while Tutu wanted to make a traditional quilt of two colors. When the quilt was finished Luka had a temper tantrum about how plain the quilt was. Tutu’s feelings were hurt the close relationship they shared was damaged. In the end, Tutu and Luka compromised by adding a lei which would sit on top of the quilt and could be taken off.
Luka’s quilt is a culturally specific text which features Hawaiian customs and family. The illustrations are a bit flat and generalized, but the artist did a good job or drawing scenes which supported the text. I could not find a single page in the entire story which did not have some flowers on it. Regardless of whether the scene was indoors or outdoors there were always an arrangement of flowers somewhere.
I think this would be a great book for kindergarten and 1st grade.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few picture books about Hawaii that my library actually has so I was excited to get it. I'm not sure that the storytelling itself was anything especially memorable, but I did appreciate the colorful paper-cuttings for illustrations and thought the depiction of Hawaii was good. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the conflict in the story (the little girl seemed very selfish to not appreciate the quilt her grandmother made for her, even if it wasn't what she was expecting; but also it was odd that the grandma didn't give her more of a hint so she could adjust her expectations) but at the same time it was nice to see a story where the adult and child don't always get along but work out their differences and come to appreciate one another more for it. The ending was satisfying.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book quite a bit. Set in Hawaii, Luka's grandmother, Tutu, decides to make a traditional Hawaiian quilt for her granddaughter. Luka is disappointed that her quilt is just two colors; Tutu is upset that Luka doesn't appreciate their island traditions. The two declare a truce and attend a Lei Day celebration. They come to terms with one another's preferences, though they don't actually change their minds. I especially liked that their resolution was respectful, realistic, and fair.

As much as I liked the story, I really loved the illustrations. They are packed with color and detail and sort of remind me of Vera B. Williams' A Chair for My Mother. I enjoyed lingering over the everyday domestic scenes and carefully inspected the kitchen for Spam. Recommended for grades 1 - 3; this is a great book for learning a bit about Hawaiian culture and family relationships.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story that blends a bit of Hawaiian culture with the interpersonal dynamics between a girl and her tutu (grandmother).

I picked this initially because it talks about a grandmother who lives with her grandchild and watches her while her parents are at work.

This is the same family situation we have, at least until our girls started school. But it also discusses the disappointment a girl feels and expresses when her dreams are not realized and the hurt the tutu felt when her loving gift is not appreciated.

The truce they make not only shows both sides of their story, but also a cultural event, Lei Day. Great book for parents, grandparents and children alike.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this. I read it in elementary school and have thought about it frequently since then. And then I found it again! The emotions in here are so real, and it's told from a realistic point of view.

[Andrea Thomas, Greenville · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about the importance of family and love. I like this story because children can relate to how Luka feels. It shows children how you can put your differences aside.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could be used as a read aloud about being gracious and grateful in the face of an unwanted gift. The main character exhibited behaviors that are not unusual in a disappointed child. The author included the anxiety and sadness of a relationship between loving family members being disrupted by a misunderstanding and the different wants of the characters. The little girl managed to reach a compromise which allowed her to like the gift more. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luka is so excited when her Tutu invites her to help in the creation of her very own traditional Hawaiian quilt, but is then very disappointed to find that all the flowers she imagined on the quilt are white (as is traditional) rather than multicolored! Together, Luka and her Tutu work through their misunderstanding to blend tradition with new ways, and maintain their strong connection to one another.

Themes: Quilt, Grandparents, Family, Art, Tradition and Change
Age range: 3-9

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I loved the cut paper collage illustrations (gorgeous!) and the beautiful quilt that Tutu made for Luka. I love all the information about Hawaii. But I don't love that Luka's pretty much a spoiled little brat. Nothing I can change about that, it's part of the story, and the story about making the quilt, and the leis, is super. Just don't like the kid. At all.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

After I read this picture book aloud to my family, my daughter said "what an ungrateful brat". So while I enjoyed the Hawaiian setting and culture represented in the story, my child found the lead character unlikeable and thought that she didn't really learn a lesson in the story.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Hawaii

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about a little girl and the special Hawaiian quilt her grandma makes her.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checked out from Kilbourn Public Library 📚

[Margaret MacPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of my dumpster dives books (I found it in a box near the dumpster). I loved the colors used throughout the book. It was FILLED with color which caused me to want to read the book in the first place. While the story was average for me , being not the best but not terrible, I enjoyed how the Hawaiian culture was the focus as the culture is often under represented. It contained some aspects of living in Hawaii that I was not really aware of such as Bento boxes being served by food venders. This can cause a discussion on differing cultures meals and lunch times around the states for children to see what is considered "a good lunch" everywhere. I made connections to other various aspects of Hawaiian culture as I had experienced a version of it being at home in the states, I knew what shaved ice was and knew the progress of making lei's, but that was the "American version" that most likely not as good as they ones they have in Hawaii. I would have this in my classroom but not as a read out loud as its plot and story are not amazing.

[Megan Richards · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about the relationship between a granddaughters and grandmother's when the younger generation does not want to follow their culture's traditions. The little girl is naive about her rebellion because she just wants a colorful quilt with flowers. The story does highlight a couple of specifics in the Hawaiian culture but the illustrations are a little generic. The illustrations do represent the colorful characteristics of the culture.

[Vee41dmb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book. I read it as part of our kid's lit to my children.
The pictures were nice and the story was okay.
The kids didn't seem to hate or love it. We discussed Hawaiian culture a bit and quilting.
There are other books I'd rather read, but this is one of the better books in our kid's lit selection.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story, illustrated brightly, about a little girl and her grandma. The grandma makes a beautiful authentic and intricate Hawaiian quilt and it isn't what the granddaughter expects. See how they resolve their differences.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, nothing much to really gush about. I liked the relationship between the girl and her Grandmother and I liked when the disappointment set it.
I don't think I've come across another book who dealt with it like this - realistic.
But other than that it was just okay.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

little girl doesn't like the quilt grandmother made for her, causing resentment on both sides.

[Artlab]

This book is located in the Pattern box.