Sewing Stories: Harriet Power's Journey From Slave To Artist

Reviewed by: Jan Hamilton - Little Dolphin School, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 25, 2015

Review

Sewing applique on quilts is a time honored storytelling tradition. This picture book biography introduces little known fabric artist Harriet Powers highlighting two quilts which currently hang in USA museums. Through the somewhat fictional narrative readers do view a slice of daily life of southern slaves around the time of the Civil War. Not taught to read or write Harriet preserved bible stories on fabric, those quilts cover the end papers of this book.

Small text blocks do impart factual information but it is the illustrations that speak the loudest. The illustrations are fun, expressive, and colorful with a folk art flavor. A short bibliography and photo of Harriet are included. History teachers, art teachers and home arts educators will welcome this book into their collections. Librarians should add it to their biography collection for young readers. "Sewing Stories" would make an excellent gift to a quilt maker who will then want to take a trip to Boston and DC to see the original quilts.

Overall Book Score: very good