ReviewsIn this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polacco's great-grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman ("This tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God," says Anna's mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the family's traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her family's low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set and-in a link to the earlier book-the babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 4-8. (Aug.), "The Keeping Quilt (1988) began with Polacco's great-grandmother Anna's arrival in America. In this sort-of prequel, Anna and her family are forced to leave Russia during the pogroms. The understated telling is beautifully supported and extended in art that harks back to Polacco's early books . The illustrations are rendered in soft gray pencil. Backgrounds are roughly yet adroitly sketched, while faces and body language are particularly expressive, and panoramic views of the shtetl are lively with detail. A few strategic features draw the eye with brilliant red and blue: small accents such as the tea set and Anna's headscarf; once, a double-page spread of the village temple in flames. This is family history at its dramatic and iconic best, a well-shaped story and a fine addition to Polacco's oeuvre ." The Horn Book, In this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polacco's great-grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman ("This tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God," says Anna's mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the family's traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her family's low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set and--in a link to the earlier book--the babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 4-8. (Aug.), THE BLESSING CUP [STARRED REVIEW!] Polacco has a gift for turning her own family stories into picture books that can touch the hearts of all. The Keeping Quilt is now 25 years old. In this brand-new companion, Polacco turns to her great-grandmother Anna's story of how she came to America. The pictures, vibrant and brilliantly suggestive of movement, are mostly black-and-white, shaded with her signature use of color to highlight certain details. Devotees of The Keeping Quilt will recognize Anna's babushka, which became the border of the quilt, on the young Anna when the czar's soldiers come to their Russian town to burn the temple and expel all the Jews. The family packs up its most precious possessions, including her papa's sewing machine and the beautiful china teapot and cups that were a wedding present. Even as they travel, they continue the ritual of drinking from the cups for God's blessing, breaking bread so they will never know hunger and using salt so that their lives will have flavor. When Anna's papa's health breaks down from hauling the cart with all their possessions, a widowed doctor takes the family in and cares for them until, once again, they are forced to leave. In gratitude for the doctor's care and for his supplying them with passage to America, they leave him the tea set, save for one cup. Polacco closes with the journey of that particular cup to the present day. History, religious persecution, immigration, and the skeins of faith and love that connect a family are all knit together in this powerful, accessible and deeply affecting story. (Picture book. 6-10), "Polacco has a gift for turning her own family stories into picture books that can touch the hearts of all. History, religious persecution, immigration, and the skeins of faith and love that connect a family are all knit together in this powerful, accessible and deeply affecting story." Kirkus Reviews, starred review, "The importance of family is the underlying message of the book; it will be best delivered by an adult who can explain some of the history that drives the action. Polacco's touching yet restrained storytelling, paired with her evocative illustrations, makes The Blessing Cup an excellent addition to any collection."- School Library Journal, "The Keeping Quilt (1988) began with Polacco's great-grandmother Anna's arrival in America. In this sort-of prequel, Anna and her family are forced to leave Russia during the pogroms. The understated telling is beautifully supported and extended in art that harks back to Polacco's early books . The illustrations are rendered in soft gray pencil. Backgrounds are roughly yet adroitly sketched, while faces and body language are particularly expressive, and panoramic views of the shtetl are lively with detail. A few strategic features draw the eye with brilliant red and blue: small accents such as the tea set and Anna's headscarf; once, a double-page spread of the village temple in flames. This is family history at its dramatic and iconic best, a well-shaped story and a fine addition to Polacco's oeuvre ." The Horn Book, In this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polacco's great-grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman (This tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God, says Anna's mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the family's traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her family's low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set and-in a link to the earlier book-the babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 48. (Aug.), In this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polaccos great-grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman (This tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God, says Annas mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the familys traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her familys low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set andin a link to the earlier bookthe babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 48. (Aug.), THE BLESSING CUP [STARRED REVIEW!] Polacco has a gift for turning her own family stories into picture books that can touch the hearts of all. The Keeping Quilt is now 25 years old. In this brand-new companion, Polacco turns to her great-grandmother Annae(tm)s story of how she came to America. The pictures, vibrant and brilliantly suggestive of movement, are mostly black-and-white, shaded with her signature use of color to highlight certain details. Devotees of The Keeping Quilt will recognize Annae(tm)s babushka, which became the border of the quilt, on the young Anna when the czare(tm)s soldiers come to their Russian town to burn the temple and expel all the Jews. The family packs up its most precious possessions, including her papae(tm)s sewing machine and the beautiful china teapot and cups that were a wedding present. Even as they travel, they continue the ritual of drinking from the cups for Gode(tm)s blessing, breaking bread so they will never know hunger and using salt so that their lives will have flavor. When Annae(tm)s papae(tm)s health breaks down from hauling the cart with all their possessions, a widowed doctor takes the family in and cares for them until, once again, they are forced to leave. In gratitude for the doctore(tm)s care and for his supplying them with passage to America, they leave him the tea set, save for one cup. Polacco closes with the journey of that particular cup to the present day. History, religious persecution, immigration, and the skeins of faith and love that connect a family are all knit together in this powerful, accessible and deeply affecting story. (Picture book. 6-10), THE BLESSING CUP [STARRED REVIEW!] Polacco has a gift for turning her own family stories into picture books that can touch the hearts of all. The Keeping Quilt is now 25 years old. In this brand-new companion, Polacco turns to her great-grandmother Annas story of how she came to America. The pictures, vibrant and brilliantly suggestive of movement, are mostly black-and-white, shaded with her signature use of color to highlight certain details. Devotees of The Keeping Quilt will recognize Annas babushka, which became the border of the quilt, on the young Anna when the czars soldiers come to their Russian town to burn the temple and expel all the Jews. The family packs up its most precious possessions, including her papas sewing machine and the beautiful china teapot and cups that were a wedding present. Even as they travel, they continue the ritual of drinking from the cups for Gods blessing, breaking bread so they will never know hunger and using salt so that their lives will have flavor. When Annas papas health breaks down from hauling the cart with all their possessions, a widowed doctor takes the family in and cares for them until, once again, they are forced to leave. In gratitude for the doctors care and for his supplying them with passage to America, they leave him the tea set, save for one cup. Polacco closes with the journey of that particular cup to the present day. History, religious persecution, immigration, and the skeins of faith and love that connect a family are all knit together in this powerful, accessible and deeply affecting story. (Picture book. 6-10), In this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polacco's great-grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman ("This tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God," says Anna's mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the family's traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her family's low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set and-in a link to the earlier book-the babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 48. (Aug.), In this prequel to The Keeping Quilt, readers learn how Polaccoe(tm)s great-grandmother Anna and her parents were forced from their shtetl in Czarist Russia and made their way to America. Among the few treasures the family took with them was a vibrantly painted tea set, a kind of familial talisman (eoeThis tea set is magic. Anyone who drinks from it has a blessing from God,e says Annae(tm)s mother, explaining its lore), which also served as a reminder that they would always be rich in what matters: resilience and love. Only one cup from the tea set made it to their new home, but it played a central role in the familye(tm)s traditions and milestones through the generations. Polacco opens her heart to readers as few authors can, inviting them to become intimates in her familye(tm)s low and high points. As in The Keeping Quilt, she renders her unabashedly sentimental scenes of immigrant life in exuberant, fluid gray pencil, reserving the splashes and spots of color primarily for the tea set ande"in a link to the earlier booke"the babushka that will become part of the quilt. Ages 4e"8. (Aug.)
Dewey Edition23