stacylmoll's review against another edition
5.0
I wish there were more than 5 stars to give to this book. I love the story and the inset which explain what was going on at the time, are wonderful. This book will make a great addition to your home library as well as classroom libraries. I am always amazed by what people can do to overcome what life has thrown at them. This story should be a lesson to everyone that you can do what you want, it might not be the way you would have it, but to take what you have and make the best out of what you have. A timeless example for all. I am so happy that I was able to get the ARC for this book, I hope everyone will look for this book when it is released in October.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Picture book story of slave girl Harriet, freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, who raised a family and lived a hardscrabble cottonfarming life, but because she had grown up sewing applique since childhood, she was able to earn some money from making and selling "story quilts." An art teacher saw one of her quilts on display at the Cotton Fair, later bought it, and wrote down the stories told by the pictures on the cloth. It (and a second one) are now displayed in museums. Endpapers have actual photos of the quilts, and the Bible and real life stories they depict ("night of fire"=shooting stars, "cold Thursday"=the night people froze to death). Illustrated in a style that uses the sewing theme, stitches framing the images, collaged with cotton balls and scraps of fabric, etc. Main text is the story and sidebar patchwork-boxes give facts to elaborate on details and dates of her life. Has fictionalized dialogue, so not a true biography, but has a bibliography and the only known photo of Harriet.
pinkrain718's review against another edition
4.0
This beautiful book tells the story of Harriet Powers and her amazing quilts. More than that, it gives the reader a glimpse into the life of an enslaved person in Georgia and how the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery did not lead to prosperity for former enslaved persons as so often told.
erine's review against another edition
3.0
The story of Harriet Powers is interesting and inspiring. There is a list of sources which includes one of my favorite historians - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich - and full descriptions of Harriet's quilts. The single existing photo of Harriet is also included.
As far as the text goes, it tells a gently frank story of a slave who lived to see her freedom, but who then had to struggle to overcome poverty. Sidebars add additional facts and some context, although the lens is so focused on Harriet that some of the larger issues are missed.
The illustrations are bright and cheerful. The mixed media effects were lovely, but so subtle that I didn't notice them until the photos of cotton bolls appeared.
As far as the text goes, it tells a gently frank story of a slave who lived to see her freedom, but who then had to struggle to overcome poverty. Sidebars add additional facts and some context, although the lens is so focused on Harriet that some of the larger issues are missed.
The illustrations are bright and cheerful. The mixed media effects were lovely, but so subtle that I didn't notice them until the photos of cotton bolls appeared.
saragrochowski's review against another edition
4.0
Herkert's depiction of Harriet Powers and her art left me feeling inspired and eager to learn more about this artist and her legacy. The collaboration with illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton is inspired and incredibly well done. And I was happy to see that Herkert included a explanations of the stories recorded in Powers' two surviving quilts at the end of the book.
mikolee's review
4.0
Beautifully illustrated multimedia collage children's book about the great African American quilter Harriet Powers. A simple moving story of a slave artist who survived and excelled.
rachel_from_avid_bookshop's review
5.0
Harriet Powers was born on a plantation in Clarke County, Georgia, and lived through the Civil War and Reconstruction. SEWING STORIES tells the story of Harriet and her picture quilts. This lovely picture book is a beautiful introduction to an important American artist whose works now hang in the Smithsonian and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
More...