The Patch Work Quilt

"The PatchWork Quilt," by Valerie Flournoy. Twenty years ago Valerie Flournoy and Jerry Pinkney created a warmhearted intergenerational story that became an award-winning perennial. Since then children from all sorts of family situations and configurations continue to be drawn to its portrait of those bonds that create the fabric of family life.







Amazon Customer Review:

A family tradition is passed down as Tanya's grandmother begins making a quilt for her granddaughter. However, when Grandmother becomes sick, the entire family must come together to complete the work for their beloved matriarch.  This is such a calming book. Not only is the story soothing, but the artwork is so soft and welcoming that it invites readers to just look. This book certainly deserves its spot as a Coretta Scott King illustration winner.  [Review by Dione Basseri]



A Note about the Author:

Valerie Flournoy and her twin sister, Vanessa, were born just three minutes apart. But that doesn't mean they're alike: Her sister is organized and enjoys mystery stories, and Valerie is not very organized and likes to read historical books. Still, except for their first year in college, the sisters have always spent lots of time together. Even today, they play cards and games with each other.


Flournoy graduated from college with a degree in social studies and got her teaching certification. When she started writing for children, she also worked for a publishing company. Now, when she's not writing, Flournoy visits schools across the country, giving a "show and tell" program on how she works with an editor, art director, and illustrator to turn her stories into books.

Toad Catcher's

"Toad Catcher's," by Brian Weiner, Chris, a young boy of 6, is playing in the park at Toad Catchers' Creek with his friends when he decides to attempt to cross the legendary monkey bars. On first, attempt he fails and falls to the ground…in the process, he loses his self-confidence and is embarrassed in front of his playmates. Chris' father consoles him and tells Chris the story of a Macaw named Screech who was afraid to fly. Screech allowed this fear to dominate his existence until one day, his friend Tracker 
falls from a branch high in the rainforest. As Screech watches him plummet towards the ground, Screech gathers all of his courage and uses the four magic words that his mother had taught him… I CAN DO IT.




Amazon Customer Review:

The lessons of this short story are invaluable and should make their way to all young people. As our, the world around us grows ever more complex and attention spans are tested at every turn, a story such as this, with simple, universal truths -can add to strengthening a child's self-image and confidence.

I strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a brightly illustrated fun to read children's book that is not only entertaining, but educational and empowering as well. [Review by Steve M]

Henry's Freedom Box

"Henry's Freedom Box," is a stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family. 



Amazon Customers Review:

As a child, Henry dreams of freedom and the author appeals to the heart and minds of all readers K-3 as the metaphors are simple but effective. The reader is able to get engrossed in the language and pictures for they are truly representative of the time of slavery. The well-chosen words the author uses are beneficial for helping a young child see just how devastating slavery was to the slave and their families. When Brown's family was sold, he was determined to escape to the North. His determination and pain leaps off the page and right into our hearts. We are holding our breath as the author describes the decision and the process of which Henry will escape. The story of that escape provides an inspiring view for younger readers. Along with well-written narrative and metaphors, the awesome and moving illustrations provided by Kadir Nelson create a journey not only for Henry but for the reader. We are able to grow with young Henry to adulthood. This adds to the story so that the reader feels a part of the time and life of Henry. The illustrations tell a story of their own.[Review by: ChitownTeach]

A Note about The Author:

Ellen Levine has always been drawn to stories of people who struggled for justice, and of ordinary people who did extraordinary things. She was fascinated by Henry "Box" Brown, whose escape is recounted in The Underground Railroad by William Still, first published in 1872. Ms. Levine was awed by Henry's ingenious idea and moved by his incredible courage. Among the author's award-winning books are Freedom's Children, winner of the Jane Addams Peace Award and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Darkness Over Denmark, a Jame Addams Peace Award Honor Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She lives in New York City and Salem, New York.

The Runaway Garden

The Runaway Garden by Jeffery L Schatzer is will teach your children that everyone and everything has a job in life. Read along as Grandpa spins a tale about the night that all the plants in the garden get up and run away. At first, they think running away is fun, but it isn’t long before things go terribly wrong. 










Amazon Customer Review:

"The Runaway Garden" is an adventurous, entertaining, and amusing story that teaches children that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It also presents a simple message about responsibility. I enjoy Jeffery Schatzer's subtle and humorous references to each vegetable's individuality. For example: "The potatoes all just closed their eyes and took off out the gate. All the green peas split for town the tomatoes stewed and stirred. Celery and her friend sweet corn stalked off without a word." . . . "Some pumpkins got themselves squashed flat, and radishes all turned red. Pepper popped, snap beans snapped, and a cauliflower lost its head." The illustrations in this book are top notch. Jeffrey Ebbeler whimsically brings the vegetables to life with a gentle touch of humor thrown in here and there. Each illustration offers a healthy feast for both children's and adult's eyes. The wise old squash is one of my favorite characters. I especially like that Mr. Ebbeler cleverly created a vegetable twin (the squash character) for Grandpa. This book is entertaining for all ages and has the added bonus of piquing children's interests in vegetables. [By Alayne Kay Christian]