Houghton Mifflin Reading: The Nation's Choice: Theme Paperbacks, Below-Level Grade 3.2 Theme 5 - The Josefina Quilt Story

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0618062289 ISBN 13: 9780618062287

Publisher: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN, 2000

Animated pictures capture the drama and warmth of this historically based, affectionate story of good and bad times on a nineteenth-century wagon-train journey. `Coerr packs strong emotions into the story, which is detailed and eventful enough to create vivid historical setting within the confines of a beginning-to-read format." —BL.

Children's Editors' Choices for 1986 (BL)
Notable 1986 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
The USA Through Children's Books 1985 (ALA)

About the Author:

Eleanor Coerr is the author of many books for young readers, including The Big Baloon Race, a Reading Rainbow book, Chang's Paper Pony, and The Josefina Story Quilt, a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.

Bruce Degen is the bestselling author and illustrator of the beloved, perennial favorite Jamberry and numerous award-winning books for children. He is the author and illustrator of Daddy Is a Doodlebug and Sailaway Home as well as the illustrator of the highly acclaimed Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole; the ever-popular Jesse Bear books by Nancy White Carlstrom; Jazzmatazz! by Stephanie Calmenson; and Shirley's Wonderful Baby by Valiska Gregory (available at your local library).

Bruce Degen's involvement with art has ranged from painting and printmaking to teaching art in New York City schools and directing an artists' lithography studio in Israel. Mr. Degen studied art at the Cooper Union and Pratt Institute. He was born in Brooklyn, New York—just like Charlie Muttnik—and now lives with his family in Connecticut.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-3 Faith is allowed to take her pet hen, Josefina, along in her family's covered wagon to California on one condition: ". . .if she makes any trouble, OUT SHE GOES!" Josefina survives some close calls with trouble, but when robbers raid the camp and Josefina squawks a warning, she earns Pa's praise and gratitude. Unfortunately, it's Josefina's last gasp. Faith mourns her but sews another patch for her memory quilt in honor of her hen. When the family reaches California, the quilt they sew tells the story of their journey. Children will appreciate Faith's bond with her pet and the details of an 1850 adventure. The story makes the history go down easily, and an author's note at the end fills in facts about the western trip and the place of quilts as pioneer diaries. The charcoal and blue/yellow wash illustrations are clear and natural, but little attention is paid to matching up quilt squares with the story's action. On the whole, a good introduction to historical fiction that children can read for themselves.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.