Abbie in Stitches

by Cynthia Cotten, Beth Peck (Illustrator)

It’s the early 1800s, and Abbie’s sister, Sarah, is a proper young lady who loves needlework. She has already made a sampler displaying her neat and even stitching. But when it becomes time for Abbie to make her sampler, she despairs – she hates needlework and would much rather curl up with one of the books on Papa’s shelf. How will she ever get through the long, tedious hours of needlework? And how can she pick a subject for a picture to sew when she really doesn’t care about the sampler at all? After considering what’s really important to her, Abbie completes the sampler in a way that is all her own.
 
Lovely pastel illustrations accompany this story about a girl who is not afraid to speak (or sew) what’s really on her mind – that she would rather be reading.   Abbie in Stitches is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Historical Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2006

Reviews

[Maria Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This shows how different it was for girls in 1822 and some things that were expected of girls at that time.

[Laurie Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do if you’re a girl in the 1800s who hates sewing, but it’s a skill every girl is expected to master? For Abbie Rogers, needlework lessons and stitching a sampler are frustrating – until she comes up with a plan to show her individuality. A heart-tugging story set in early America that not only makes history come to life but shows how important it is to be yourself.

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think historical fiction is my favorite so this was right up there. It is a great book about a young girl learning sewing techniques in 1822. I especially enjoyed the afterward. Great for little girls. PB really liked what Abbie put on her sampler and requested the book again based on that.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because it takes place in western New York, where I grew up. A girl would prefer to read rather than sew samplers. I can relate to that!