The Keeping Quil

Author/ Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Awards: Sydney Taylor Book Award

Grade Level: K-3rd

Summary: When her great grandma Anna came to America, the only thing that she had left to remind her of her home back in Russia was her dress and bebushka which she has turned into a quilt with her aunts and uncles old clothes to remind her of back home. The quilt was used as a wedding huppa for her wedding and was then used to wrap Carly in when she was born and later as a wedding huppa when she got married. The quilt then wraps Mary Ellen and her daughter when she is born. This quilt continues to follow the family, carrying memories of life with it.

Evaluation: I love the illustrations and how the keeping quilt is the only consistent image in color. I think this is a great book to read to students and have a discussion about customs and traditions of different cultures. My students can also make a paper quilt to show case the different cultures we are learning about. or have in our classroom.