Borders Books Category:  Cultures Publisher: Poeticjava Publishing ISBN-10:  0975536044 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 34 Copyright: 2005 In the Quilting Tradition is a story about the interaction between a young man and his grandmother as she tells him about the tradition of quilting (from an African perspective) released in 2005 and published by Poeticjava Publishing. Excerpt       Kyrie was visiting his grandmother. He loved his grandmother so much. She told such wonderful stories. Kyrie thought his grandmother was the smartest person he knew. Today, his grandmother was quilting. “Grandma,” he said, “what are you doing?” “ I’m quilting,” his grandmother replied. “What’s quilting? he asked. His grandmother sighed, moved her quilting to the side, and pulled Kyrie onto her lap. “Quilting,” she began, “grows out of an old African tradition. A quilt is a collection of cloths made of more than one layer. The cloths, with the middle layer being made of something warm, are sewn together.”

In The Quilting Tradition Review
RAWSISTAZ Literary Group
Attn: Reviews Editor
5885 Cumming Hwy, Ste 108-232
Sugar Hill, GA 30518

RAW Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

The Tradition Continues
IN THE QUILTING TRADITION provides a good introductory overview to the historical significance of quilts in African American history and culture. In it, Kyrie spends time with his grandmother, the woman he considers the smartest in the world. As they spend the day together Kyrie's grandmother teaches him a little about quilting, and its African roots. She goes on to explain how quilts were used by slaves as a means of communication and also the meaning behind some of the symbols used. A few weeks later on another visit with his grandmother, Kyrie learns another lesson about sharing and about life.
The book concludes with a listing of discussion questions which help children both develop critical reading comprehension skills and also encourage them to reflect on some of their own experiences. In addition, the book also includes a vocabulary list and integrates useful lessons about identifying shapes and patterns into the story. The illustrations for the book were vibrant and colorful, but unfortunately were too small. A story such as this one, about something as visual as quilts, really would have been greatly enhanced if the illustrations played a more prominent role on the page. IN THE QUILTING TRADITION is not what I would consider a comprehensive book on the history of quilts in the African American community, but it is a good introduction that also highlights the importance of sharing.

Four Stars Review
Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
http://www.blackbookreviews.net
Date Reviewed: Dec 21, 2005