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The Name Quilt
A family history in patches and stories
Summer evenings at Grandma’s house always end just the way Sadie likes – with Grandma tucking her in with the name quilt. As Sadie chooses from among the patchwork of hand-stitched names of generations of relatives, Grandma tells story after story – stories of hog-riding and hornets and Grandma’s own wedding. Then one summer day, a fierce storm comes on too quickly to get the washing off the line, and the quilt is blown away. That night, Sadie worries that more than just the quilt has disappeared, until Grandma shows her that all her favorite names and stories are more a part of Sadie than she knows.
Phyllis Root’s loving tribute to a bedtime ritual from her own childhood and Margot Apple’s intricate illustrations bring the story of Sadie and the name quilt to the page with just the right touch of humor and heart. The Name Quilt is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Summer evenings at Grandma’s house always end just the way Sadie likes – with Grandma tucking her in with the name quilt. As Sadie chooses from among the patchwork of hand-stitched names of generations of relatives, Grandma tells story after story – stories of hog-riding and hornets and Grandma’s own wedding. Then one summer day, a fierce storm comes on too quickly to get the washing off the line, and the quilt is blown away. That night, Sadie worries that more than just the quilt has disappeared, until Grandma shows her that all her favorite names and stories are more a part of Sadie than she knows.
Phyllis Root’s loving tribute to a bedtime ritual from her own childhood and Margot Apple’s intricate illustrations bring the story of Sadie and the name quilt to the page with just the right touch of humor and heart. The Name Quilt is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2003
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Root
107 books71 followers"Picture books are performances," says Phyllis Root, quoting some sage advice she once received. "They're performances that involve a child--something both of you do. And once I started thinking of them that way, I started getting much looser about making up words and playing around with rhythm."
Phyllis Root picked up an early affinity for colloquial language while growing up in Indiana and southern Illinois, "where people actually say things like, 'I got a hitch in my git-along'!" She decided to be a writer in the fifth grade, but it wasn't until she was thirty years old that she took a writing course with an influential teacher who gave her "the tools" she says she needed. "That's when I figured out that you could learn to be a writer," she says. What followed was a series of rollicking stories that take on a new life when read aloud, among them ONE DUCK STUCK, a one-of-a-kind counting book; KISS THE COW!, an affectionate salute to stubbornness; WHAT BABY WANTS, a tale of increasingly ridiculous efforts to quiet an infant that one reviewer compared to an episode of I LOVE LUCY, and LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, a buoyant tale with a final surprise discovery.
The author does "endless rewriting" before a book is finished, but often starts out by writing her stories in her head, a trick she learned as a time-pressed mother when her two daughters were very young. For example, RATTLETRAP CAR--a joyful celebration of perseverance--began with her playing around with sounds ("clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!") and calling up bits of old camp songs.
A master of rhythmic read-alouds, Phyllis Root exhibits a range many writers would envy. Her counting book TEN SLEEPY SHEEP is as serene and lulling as ONE DUCK STUCK is rambunctious. "Counting sheep isn't always easy," she notes. "Once, while we were farm-sitting, my daughter and I had to chase down two runaway lambs in the growing darkness, then count twenty-seven frisky lambs to make sure they were all safe for the night. Luckily, they were." OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY is a quiet, classic picture book about a defining moment in the life of a small child--getting lost and having the pluck to find the way home. On the other extreme, Phyllis Root takes on no less than the whole universe in BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, a powerful, original, down-home creation myth that received rave reviews and won the prestigious BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. Most recently, Phyllis Root penned LUCIA AND THE LIGHT, a timeless adventure about one brave girl's quest that was inspired by Nordic lore.
When she's not writing, Phyllis Root teaches at Vermont College's MFA in Writing for Children program. She lives with her two daughters and two cats in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and loves to read (mostly mysteries with female protagonists) or spend time outdoors gardening, camping, sailing, or traveling. "One of the things I've learned about myself," she confides, "is that when I get really stuck and can't seem to get writing, it's because I've forgotten to take time out to play."
Phyllis Root picked up an early affinity for colloquial language while growing up in Indiana and southern Illinois, "where people actually say things like, 'I got a hitch in my git-along'!" She decided to be a writer in the fifth grade, but it wasn't until she was thirty years old that she took a writing course with an influential teacher who gave her "the tools" she says she needed. "That's when I figured out that you could learn to be a writer," she says. What followed was a series of rollicking stories that take on a new life when read aloud, among them ONE DUCK STUCK, a one-of-a-kind counting book; KISS THE COW!, an affectionate salute to stubbornness; WHAT BABY WANTS, a tale of increasingly ridiculous efforts to quiet an infant that one reviewer compared to an episode of I LOVE LUCY, and LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, a buoyant tale with a final surprise discovery.
The author does "endless rewriting" before a book is finished, but often starts out by writing her stories in her head, a trick she learned as a time-pressed mother when her two daughters were very young. For example, RATTLETRAP CAR--a joyful celebration of perseverance--began with her playing around with sounds ("clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!") and calling up bits of old camp songs.
A master of rhythmic read-alouds, Phyllis Root exhibits a range many writers would envy. Her counting book TEN SLEEPY SHEEP is as serene and lulling as ONE DUCK STUCK is rambunctious. "Counting sheep isn't always easy," she notes. "Once, while we were farm-sitting, my daughter and I had to chase down two runaway lambs in the growing darkness, then count twenty-seven frisky lambs to make sure they were all safe for the night. Luckily, they were." OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY is a quiet, classic picture book about a defining moment in the life of a small child--getting lost and having the pluck to find the way home. On the other extreme, Phyllis Root takes on no less than the whole universe in BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, a powerful, original, down-home creation myth that received rave reviews and won the prestigious BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. Most recently, Phyllis Root penned LUCIA AND THE LIGHT, a timeless adventure about one brave girl's quest that was inspired by Nordic lore.
When she's not writing, Phyllis Root teaches at Vermont College's MFA in Writing for Children program. She lives with her two daughters and two cats in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and loves to read (mostly mysteries with female protagonists) or spend time outdoors gardening, camping, sailing, or traveling. "One of the things I've learned about myself," she confides, "is that when I get really stuck and can't seem to get writing, it's because I've forgotten to take time out to play."
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 30, 2020
Perfect little short story to use in my classroom for narrative writing!!
January 12, 2024
Sadie is spending the summer at her grandmother's house and loves bedtime especially because Grandma has a quilt called the "Name Quilt" that she puts on Sadie's bed. Every square has a name sewn into it and every night Sadie picks a name from the quilt. Grandma tells her a story about the person whose name Sadie picks. One day when they're out fishing a bad storm comes in quickly and blows away that beloved quilt. Poor Sadie is sure that the memories go with it, but Grandma has other ideas.
A sweet story about family, love, and cherished memories appropriate for story time, though a little on the long side.
A sweet story about family, love, and cherished memories appropriate for story time, though a little on the long side.
October 15, 2018
I was delighted with the illustrations that show the people in the stories Grandma is telling about stepping off of their quilt square into a picture of the story where they are wearing the clothing from the square.
March 16, 2019
One of my new favorites--about quilts and family stories and names and remaking what we lose.
August 3, 2019
A tornado takes away a precious family heirloom, but can it be replaced?
January 27, 2014
Realistic Fiction
This book tells the story of a girl named Sadie who loves to hear stories from her grandma about her family. Sadie sleeps in a bed with a quilt that contains patches of old clothing embroidered with the names of old family members. Every night, when Sadie's grandma tucks her in, she tells her a story about any of the names Sadie points to. One day, the quilt blows away after being hung outside in a storm. Sadie is upset because she thinks that without the quilt, she and her grandma won't have the memories of their family. Her grandma helps her realize that the stories are in their hearts and they don't need the quilt to remember them.
I would use this book in my classroom as an interactive read aloud or independent reading. It may be a bit challenging for some students but is appropriate for advanced readers in third to fifth grade. The illustrations are beautiful and although it is a fairly quick read, it contains a rich story line and has lots of content on each page. This book has themes of family and relationships, and focuses on sharing stories and remembering where we came from. It would go well with a lesson on culture and family life. Students could give presentations on their family's history and what makes them unique.
I really enjoyed reading this book and think that students would as well. The focus on family relationships and quality time together make it an enjoyable story with lots of opportunities for connections to the reader's life.
This book tells the story of a girl named Sadie who loves to hear stories from her grandma about her family. Sadie sleeps in a bed with a quilt that contains patches of old clothing embroidered with the names of old family members. Every night, when Sadie's grandma tucks her in, she tells her a story about any of the names Sadie points to. One day, the quilt blows away after being hung outside in a storm. Sadie is upset because she thinks that without the quilt, she and her grandma won't have the memories of their family. Her grandma helps her realize that the stories are in their hearts and they don't need the quilt to remember them.
I would use this book in my classroom as an interactive read aloud or independent reading. It may be a bit challenging for some students but is appropriate for advanced readers in third to fifth grade. The illustrations are beautiful and although it is a fairly quick read, it contains a rich story line and has lots of content on each page. This book has themes of family and relationships, and focuses on sharing stories and remembering where we came from. It would go well with a lesson on culture and family life. Students could give presentations on their family's history and what makes them unique.
I really enjoyed reading this book and think that students would as well. The focus on family relationships and quality time together make it an enjoyable story with lots of opportunities for connections to the reader's life.
February 16, 2012
Sadie enjoys spending the summer with her Grandma. She especially likes when her Grandma tucks her in with the name quilt. The name quilt is beautiful and each square tells the story of a loved one. One day, Sadie and Grandma hang the name quilt out to dry in the summer air while they go fishing. Suddenly, a big storm comes through damaging Grandma's house and whisking away the name quilt. Sadie is upset but Grandma reminds her they are lucky to be safe and she also recalls also the stories from the quilt in her head. The ending is rather touching and I hope to do something similar one day.
Root's story shows the significance of family bonds and heritage. Apple's illustrations are personable and help readers to see the strong bond between Sade, Grandma, and their heritage/family.
Root's story shows the significance of family bonds and heritage. Apple's illustrations are personable and help readers to see the strong bond between Sade, Grandma, and their heritage/family.
April 2, 2013
Another great book to read at the beginning of the year to get to know students' names and their families. The book is about a little girl named Sadie who loves spending time with her Grandmother. She loves it when her grandma puts her to bed with the Name Quilt. The quilt is made up with stories about their loved ones and is beautifully put together. They had set the quilt out to dry outside when a summer rain storm blew it away. Sade was upset, but her and her grandmother talked about the stories of all the people on the quilt. The book is very sweet and touching and teaches students about family and how important it is. I would use this book to get to know about my students families and have them make their own quilt out of construction paper and share it in the class and at home.
January 23, 2017
(KidLit ED204 category: realistic fiction)
"The Name Quilt" by Phyllis Root caught my eye because I am a quilter. A young girl loves hearing the stories of the names that are embroidered on Grandma's quilt. One summer day, Grandma and the little girl go fishing and the name quilt is swept away during a terrible storm. The girl fears that without the quilt, the names and stories are lost. Grandma shows the girl that this isn't so.
This is a great book about keeping history alive. Having a name quilt is just one way to remind us to pass on stories from generation to generation.
The illustrations by Margo Apple almost look colored with crayon and add a great simplistic charm to this book.
"The Name Quilt" by Phyllis Root caught my eye because I am a quilter. A young girl loves hearing the stories of the names that are embroidered on Grandma's quilt. One summer day, Grandma and the little girl go fishing and the name quilt is swept away during a terrible storm. The girl fears that without the quilt, the names and stories are lost. Grandma shows the girl that this isn't so.
This is a great book about keeping history alive. Having a name quilt is just one way to remind us to pass on stories from generation to generation.
The illustrations by Margo Apple almost look colored with crayon and add a great simplistic charm to this book.
March 30, 2014
I loved the idea of this book, and have considered making a name quilt for my family. Each night at her Grandma's house, Sadie picks a name from the name quilt that she is tucked into bed with, and her grandmother tells her a story about that person. But tragedy comes when the quilt is blown of the line during a storm until Grandma tells Sadie that the quilt is not important because the names and stories are all a part of her already. The story focues on family relationships and the importance of remembering where we come from. i would recommend this book for mid to upper elementary ages.
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February 17, 2013The Name Quilt is a bout a little girl spending time with her grandmother. On this trip, they talk about family history while looking at a quilt with different family members names on it. One day, a bad storm came and they quilt was blown away and the little girl was very hurt because it meant so much to her and her grandmother. Things were okay afterwards because they just started on a new quilt with new and familiar stories.
December 7, 2016
The name quilt has a name embroidered on each square. The names are various people in the family.
Sadie asks for stories from Grandma every night based on a name from one of the squares.
A storm comes through. Sadie and Grandma are safe, but the name quilt is gone (it was hung on the clothesline to air). They prove with stories that night that they don't need the quilt to remember. They do create a new quilt together, but this time Sadie has a square, too!
Sadie asks for stories from Grandma every night based on a name from one of the squares.
A storm comes through. Sadie and Grandma are safe, but the name quilt is gone (it was hung on the clothesline to air). They prove with stories that night that they don't need the quilt to remember. They do create a new quilt together, but this time Sadie has a square, too!
July 20, 2016
Sweet picture book about a girl visiting with her grandmother and reminiscing about relatives who have passed while reading their names off the patchwork quilt that covers the bed. Made me want to start my own naming quilt.
March 5, 2009
Sweet story of the importance of how family memories and treasured and passed down through generations.
March 19, 2009
This was fun story about heritage and learning about the beauty of belonging to a family. For some reason I always almost started crying on the last page!
December 13, 2009
A darling book to remember the stories of who the character was and what the experiences help create her to be. It was very endearing.
November 18, 2010
A lovely book about family heritage.
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February 11, 2015Read my review here:
http://inhabiting-books.blogspot.com/...
http://inhabiting-books.blogspot.com/...
May 4, 2013
This story could lead to great writing, just like The Memory String. In fact, this would be a good companion book to that book. Strong writing.
March 1, 2016
Wonderful children's book!
July 21, 2016
This was a sweet book about a girl's relationship with her grandmother and family stories through a quilt. The illustrations were lovely. It makes a good read aloud book.
May 3, 2017
Family stories give children comfort, identity and joy. When the quilt that holds the names of her ancestors gets lost to the wind, a girl and her grandmother work together to create a new one, featuring the girl's name in the center. A lovely book about family history and the delight children find in hearing true stories from their own family's past.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews