Eight Hands Round: A Patchwork Alphabet

"Paul provides information about pioneer life through speculation about the origins of 26 quilt patterns, one for each letter of the alphabet. The variety of colors and designs makes the quilts themselves the real stars of the book [and] will [encourage] students to develop their own creations in cloth or on paper." —SLJ.

Outstanding Books of 1991 (NYT)
Notable 1991 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Books for Vacation Reading (NYT)

Introduces the letters of the alphabet with names of early American patchwork quilt patterns and explains the origins of the designs by describing the activity or occupation they derive from.

"Paul provides information about pioneer life through speculation about the origins of 26 quilt patterns, one for each letter of the alphabet. The variety of colors and designs makes the quilts themselves the real stars of the book [and] will [encourage] students to develop their own creations in cloth or on paper." —SLJ.

Outstanding Books of 1991 (NYT)
Notable 1991 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
Books for Vacation Reading (NYT)

Children's Literature

I still have the patchwork baby-blanket Mrs. Somers made for me in 1934. Its pattern's name was the first thing I looked for when this delightful alphabet arrived. Suggest youngsters discover what designs they have on quilts at home, use the 26 patterns as models for paper patchwork projects, or just enjoy this simple, engaging history of one colorful aspect of women's creativity. In 1988, a retired schoolteacher and counselor initiated a project that included Kids Making Quilts for Kids (Quilt Digest, 1992). The quilting bee provides the time and place for the quilters to discuss AIDS and substance abuse; the finished quilts are donated to hospitals for babies born HIV-positive or affected by alcohol or drugs. 1996 (orig.

Ann Whitford Paul’s second book for children grew out of her long-time love of quilts. She lives with her family in Los Angeles, California.

Jeanette Winter is the illustrator of more than a dozen children’s books, including Hinny Winny Bunco by Carole Greene. She has twice been the recipient of the American Illustrators Guild Award. She lives in Frankfort, Maine.