The Quilt Story

by Tony Johnston, Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

Long ago, a young girl named Abigail put her beloved patchwork quilt in the attic. Now years later, another girl discovers the quilt and makes it her own, relying on its warmth to help her feel secure in a new home. "A quilt that provides warmth, fun and comfort to two different generations is the star of this rich picture book . . . dePaola provides a warm, dignified interpretation of Johnston's stroy."--Booklist, starred review. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Folklore

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tony Johnston has written many acclaimed books for young people. She and her husband lived in Mexico for fifteen years, where they raised their children. She now lives in San Marino, California.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: A little girl's mother made the quilt to keep her warm when the snow came down, long ago. She stitched the quilt by a yellow flame, humming all the time. She stitched the tails of falling stars. And she stitched the name, Abigail.

Premise/plot: This book is a story of a quilt. The picture book opens with the quilt's creation. The picture book closes with the quilt's recreation. In between, readers meet two different girls who love, love, love the quilt; girls who take comfort from the quilt. In between, readers see different mothers fixing and repairing the quilt as needed.

My thoughts: I really loved this one. When the quilt was put in the attic and forgotten, I admit I was SAD. I didn't want the quilt to be found and used by MICE. I didn't want the mice to eat it. I was so happy when the quilt was rediscovered by a new generation. I'm guessing it was several generations removed from the original owner. I don't know if a quilt is really as easy to repair as this picture book makes it appear.

This picture book reminded me of an Alice Walker short story, Everyday Use. Adults who read and enjoy The Quilt Story should read it.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

[Acacia Casner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young girl who forms a special bond to a quilt her mother made her. She takes the quilt everywhere with her until it is stained and torn. The young girl has to move and finds comfort in the quilt in a unfamiliar place. The story ends with a little girl asking her mother to repair the blanket that has been stored away for a while. Students must make inferences to figure out that the little girl at the end of the story is not the same one as in the beginning. The little girl at the end is actually the first one's daughter. I use this text to teach inferences and text-to-self connections.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful tale about a quilt that is loved, loved and then loved some more. With Tomie dePaola's inimitable illustrations, it's a terrific story to read to a young child, especially when you are trying to explain the meaning behind a legacy or a treasured item handed down through the ages. We've read this book a couple of times.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, can’t believe I have never read this before.

[Bethany Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves finding old things and bringing them back to life, I loved this little book. Grab a tissue first.

[Bhavika Israni (bhavikareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this, and it felt like a warm hug 🫂

[Aneesa]

An old fashioned story and an old fashioned painting style to go with it.

[Hannah Gies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming tale of the comfort of a quilt through multiple generations.

[Aiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! A book with a warm heart

Read at Gwen's house

[Stephen Stopper]

Title: The Quilt Story
Author: Tony Johnston
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Mothers and daughters, quilting, frontier life
Opening line/sentence: “A little girl’s mother made the quilt to keep her warm when the snow came down, long ago.”
Brief Book Summary: A young girl named Abigail has just received a brand new quilt that her mother had stitched for her. Abigail takes the quilt everywhere with her, she loves the quilt. One day the family moved far away. While the other blankets and clothes were stuffed in a trunk, the quilt kept Abigail and her sisters warm from the winds, rain, and sparkling nights. When Abigail grows old she puts the quilt in the attic and everybody forgets about it. That is until one day a mouse family finds it and loves it, then a raccoon, then a cat. A new little girl comes upstairs to look for her cat and finds the quilt. Her mother stitches it up and makes it new. One day the family moves far away, and the quilt is there to keep her warm.
Professional Recommendation/Review:
Mary Quattlebaum (Children’s Literature)
“Any child with a special blanket will enjoy this story about a little pioneer girl who takes her quilt, stitched in a design of falling stars, across the country to a new home. In this home, in a different era, the quilt is found by another little girl and comforts this girl as she journeys to a new home-not by covered wagon, but by moving van. Illustrator depaola’s primary colors and stylized figures capture well the folklife quality of the story.”
Professional Recommendation/Review #2
From the Publisher
"A quilt that provides warmth, fun, and comfort to two different generations is the star of this rich picture book. . . dePaola provides a warm, dignified interpretation of Johnston's story." —Booklist, starred review
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
I tend to agree with Mary Quattlebaum because any child that grew up with a blanket can relate to this story. Also, I really liked the illustrations that depaola used throughout the story. They pictures are very soft and easy on the eyes. There are not a ton of words throughout the book, but the point is made in a very deliberate and clever way.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: I would think that this story is designed for intermediate readers. However, young readers would definitely understand what it going on just by looking at the pictures. There are not a ton of words per page, but there are a decent number of pages.
Consideration of Instructional Application: This would be a great book to use when teaching a fable unit. Children will love the pictures and happy story plot. I think one thing that I would do with this book would be to use it during a writing lesson. I could have the children read the book and then draw their own favorite blanket. Once they are done with their drawing, they will then write about their favorite blanket and a little backstory on it (where they got it, how long, etc).

[S. J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love almost anything illustrated by Tomie dePaola and so was surprised when I opened a box of books I'd tucked away for some years, only to find I owned one I'd never even read before. It was rather like Christmas. After reading this, I'm even more shocked I never did before because this would have been right up my alley as a kid. I loved anything to do with history and a book about a quilt as it moves through its 'life' would have been perfect.

This is literally The Quilt Story, the story of the making, using, setting aside, and rediscovery of a family quilt. You watch two girls and a few animals gain much from having this quilt in their lives; it really shows how something made can endure through time and beyond people. My particular favorite parts were the two pictures, one that began the story and the other that ended the story. The first showed a newly made quilt, beautiful in its elegant work and vibrant colors. The second showed the quilt at the book's end. Pieces had been replaced, many of the colors were faded, and there were stains dotting the fabric; it was beautiful, perhaps more beautiful as its being well used and well loved is clearly written upon it.

The illustrations were amazing, as they always are with dePaola. They are elegant in their simplicity and work well to tell the story beyond the text.

A lovely book for a mother and daughter to share together, this is also a wonderful story about how much a quilt or other item made for a family member can pass down and touch multiple generations.

[Tessa Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who is in love with the quilt her mother made her. She takes it absolutely everywhere with her. Finally she grows out of it and puts it away in the attic for a new generation to find.

This story is awesome, it shows a girl with her quilt, and then her taking it on a long journey which readers can assume is the Oregon trail by the covered wagons and the description of a long and hard journey. As a teacher I can use this to slip in a little background information about the Oregon trail to students. The book goes on and the father makes them their new home in their new land, I can use this to describe the differences in the land that the families who went on the Oregon trail left and the land they came to. I can also give a little lesson on the differences in how houses are built and what utilities were available in their houses during that time.

The book goes even farther and brings you to a more modern setting, generations down the line a new little girl finds the quilt and her mother fixes it up but then they too move. Except now there is cars and streets in the illustrations showing how much time has passed. This also provides a great opportunity for a lesson on the differences between the pioneer days and the modern ones, students can reflect on how significant it is for two girls from such different times sharing one quilt.

Another approach would be to teach students sowing and/or crocheting methods so that they can make their own item in class, like a blanket or pillow.

[Erica Karp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about a little girl and her quilt. Abigail's mother made her the quilt when she was very young. Abigail was very attached to it and took it everywhere, it even traveled with her when she moved. It was the one thing that could bring her comfort in her new house. Eventually, Abigail grew less attached to the quilt and put it in the attic for safe keeping. She forgot about it until her daughter finds it and asks her to repair it, she does and it becomes the one thing that can comfort her daughter when they move. This book would be good to teach students about the continuity of time, that things can be passed down and have history. The book does a good job of making the importance of the blanket stay the same as everything else changes. The book also does a good job of representing the change in time visually. There is a big difference between what things look like when Abigail is a girl and when her daughter is alive. I think this makes it more accessible to students with disabilities. Even though the story is slow and filled with a lot of words, the visuals do a great job of showing the differences between the two girls and how the blanket aged and was repaired. May need to make this progression more tangible with a visual of the blanket over time or a time line of the story but I do not think this book excludes any students.

[Marissa Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has not won any awards.

"The Quilt Story" is appropriate for pre-k to second grade students.

This book is about a mother who stitches together a quilt for her daughter. She brings it everywhere she goes, even to the new log cabin that her father built. They are pioneers, and lived many years ago. The quilt eventually gets left in the attic, where a new little girl finds it years later. Her mother fixes it up for her, and the history of the quilt continues on.

This is a nice story by Tony Johnston that focuses on the history of objects around us. Even an old quilt tells a story through the girl who owned it before, and the mother who made it. Although generations apart, both young girls loved the quilt, and used it in many aspects of their lives. "The Quilt Story" is a beautiful book that shows the beauty in objects.

This book can be used in the classroom for a read aloud, which can prompt a discussion about generations, and objects having a history. The students can be asked to find something from their own house that belonged to their parents or grandparents, and bring it into the classroom if they can. Also, students can be given a square of felt that they decorate, and then the teacher can turn it into a class quilt.

[Ms. Argueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra C Argueta
March 2, 2016
ETEC 545
Picture Book Review:
Johnston ,Tony illustrations by dePaola, Tomie . The Quilt Story (1985).
In this story about a quilt made with love by a loving mother for Abigail, the little girl, Abigail, is comforted throughout her childhood by its reassuring touch. The quilt, a loyal companion is always there to cushion the sadness and uncertainty that can come with change. The pangs that are part of everyone’s growing pains and the difficult changes we must all endure are always softened by the touch of Abigail’s mother’s hands, which are channeled, in this story by the quilt. The illustrations, are themselves a patchwork of two family’s lives, depicting the passage of time, the changing world, and the adaptation that must come with acceptance if we are to live on. We see two families Abigail’s who trudge through life during colonial America then many years later , beautifully shown by the modernity of the character’s appearance, the quilt lives on in another little girl’s hands. The gorgeous pastels in the background, reinforce the short concise sentences showing glimpses of two family’s journey through life.
Target audience 5-11.

[Shannon Brasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Quilt Story is a fun read for all ages. The story begins with a little pioneer girl named Abigail who has this special quilt her mother made her that she takes everywhere and does everything with. After Abigail’s family moves west, she is having a hard time adjusting to the new house, a new bed, and a new rocking horse. It is the comfort of both the quilt and her mother’s arms that comfort her. Over time, Abigail puts the quilt in the attic to be forgotten and used by animals for many years. Over time a new family moves into the house and their daughter becomes attached to the quilt just like Abigail. This family also moves and the quilt provides comfort to this new girl the same as it did for Abigail. This book is very relatable to children as many children have comfort items and can relate to the girls and their blankets.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mother quilt a quilt for her daughter Abigail. Abigail loves the quilt. It's her security blanket. When the family moves, all is new and fresh . . . and not especially welcoming. That is until the girl snuggles under the quilt in her new home.

She eventually grows older and the quilt is stored away in the attic where it becomes home to the mice and cat. The girl finds it and ass her mother to repair it.

The family moves again. Once again, home isn't the same until the quilt is snuggled under.

I liked this. I think the ending would have been more dramatic had the girl grown up and passed the quilt onto her own daughter in their new home.

[Juliette Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book you see how a quilt ventures to other people throughout the years. It starts with a little girl named Abigail. Her mother created the quilt for her for the cold winter nights. They ended up moving and Abigail put it in the attic. She gave the quilt so much love and later on you see that some animals began to love it too. A few years go by and a new little girl finds the quilt. She asks her mom to fix it. This girl will now give it the love it deserves again. In this book I believe that it teaches you that sharing is caring and that even though the quilt was left behind, it found someone new to love it as much as Abigail did. Everything deserves a little bit of love.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book touches on themes of family history, relocation, tradition, and family heirlooms. Abigail’s mother makes her a patchwork quilt. Abigail loves the quilt and puts it to good use: as an imaginary dress, as a picnic blanket, to hide under during hide-and-seek, and to keep her warm when she’s sick. One day her family decides to move West to build a new life for themselves... http://barmyforbooks.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/book-review-the-quilt-story/

[Monica]

The Quilt Story is about a girl who discovers an old patchwork quilt in the attic. This child takes it and makes it her own which helps her feel more at more in a new house and place.
This book would be a good one to read before grandparents day or another time when visitors are coming. Perhaps these people could even bring in something special to share with the class to tell more about themselves. It also would help children appreciate the older things in life. Something it is so easy get caught up in the new things of this world.

[Erin Burke Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annotation and Comment: The quilt in this story could almost be described as a character. It is a provider and goes on more than one journey. If nothing else, it could be certainly considered a metaphor for family, home, or love. dePaola’s strong colors and use of light in his illustrations are effective.
This would be an excellent book to read when a student either was moving away or had just moved.

[Kirstin Kemppainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very precious story about a quilt that belonged to a young girl Abigail. She loved that quilt and it made her feel " home". Years later, after many other animals used the quilt for warmth and a home, a young girl found the quilt in her attic and fell in love with it too. This story was cute and had awesome illustrations. It's what we do in a space that makes it feel welcoming, not what it necessarily looks like.

[metimoteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully-furnished, compact little story from Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola. Johnston's writing is quite poetic. He chronicles the journeys not so much of two girls separated by generations but the quilt that binds them and their families and gives each child comfort during times of transition. DePaola's familiar style contributes notably to the quiet peacefulness Johnston's prose offers. A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.

[Colette Denali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a favorite when I was small. I didn’t remember the plot, but when I saw it at my mom’s during our holiday visit, I knew I wanted to read it to Vanessa!

She made the astute comment that this story may have resonated with childhood Colette because of its theme of comfort object during liminal periods during childhood. Yes!!

The colorful but sedate illustrations are so evocative of my childhood bedtimes. How I longed for an appliquéd quilt with shooting stars!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story. I liked how it all tied back together and made a loop. The illustrations were lovely, it is hard not to like Tomie's endearing drawings. I would probably recommend.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2009...

[Emilia P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book exudes love from every single stinking page. It's exhaustingly wonderful. For people who are attached to their homes, families, and for finding and holding tight to something that makes you brave in the face of the big world. What a story, what heartfelt illustrations. Tomie is indefatigable, and life would suck without him.

[Kelsey Scherer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mother makes a quilt for her daughter Abigail. Her daughter loves this quilt and takes it everywhere. She loves on it and wears it down but her moms always fixes it. As she grew older Abigail put it in the attic where mice, raccoon and a cat enjoyed it. Another little girl finds it and loves/enjoys it also. A great story of a girls love for her special quilt.

[Brianna Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because it shows how change is not always a bad thing and that adapting to the change is a part of human nature. Also, you can make any place your own by making it feel homey to you. I just loved the story line and believe that children will be able to relate to the story because it is very practical.

[Kristin Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a girl whose comfort item is her quilt. The books shows how the importance of the quilt shifts as the girl gets older. Even though she doesn't need it as much as she gets older, it is still meaningful to her. Most people can relate to this book because as children, we had our own comfort items.

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story includes life circumstances that a child had to overcome and the security item that got the child through. We can all pretty much relate to this security item and hard issues to overcome. The journey of the quilt shows the journey of its owners and friends. It is very relatable and comforting.