‘The Quiltmaker’s Gift’ by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail de Marcken

(K – 3) A quilter who makes the most beautiful quilts in the world, generously gives them away to those who need them. However, when a greedy king asks for one, she refuses to oblige, and bravely steps out to teach him a valuable lesson. It’s a lovely old-fashioned folk tale all wrapped up in beautiful cozy quilt designs.

The author Brumbeau claims that his exposure to independent self-sufficient women (his mother and his sister) gave him the inspiration for this book and others. The illustrator de Marcken says that she has been lucky to have lived in many different places in the world which have inspired her work. Her illustrations are brilliantly colour rich and fanciful.

One fun aspect of the book for quilters, which I am myself, is that the elaborate illustrations throughout the book are full of clues to quilt block names! For example, the ‘bear claw’ pattern is in the quilt that she gives to the bear in the cave.

You can link to a a full reading of the story with pictures here.

There are companion quilt books available with patterns for the quilts featured in this picture book by Joanne Larson Line. According to reviews this first one is superior to the sequel. Check Amazon or your local quilt shop.