Review Detail

The Quilt of Belonging began as a project to celebrate all of the people of Canada and all of the countries that they came from. An artist, Esther Bryan, had the inspiration and her love of textile art was how she chose the form: a quilt composed of blocks made by the people of Canada about their point of origin or current home.

The quilt was quite an undertaking, with its final form coming in at a whopping 120 feet by 10 feet. The official vision was to: create a collaborative work of art that will recognize Canada's diversity, celebrate our common humanity and promote harmony and compassion among people.

This picture book celebrates the quilt, the people who made it, and the rich heritage of Canada. Select blocks have full page spreads including large photos, while others are talked about only briefly and some are just mentioned in the final list in the back of the book. Thats hardly surprising, considering that over 200 blocks are contained within the quilt. However, it was a little disappointing, as I was interested in seeing at least a small picture of all of the blocks. Those seeking more information can always visit the website for further details.

This book was a Cybills non-fiction nominee and I have to agree that it is a visually stunning book, especially if you happen to be a quilter (I am). However, it will appeal primarily to those interested in Canadian history or in quilting. I can quite easily see it being used in Canadian schools, but I doubt it is a book that a child would pick up on his or her own without encouragement.

That said, this is a book sure to instill some Canadian pride in citizens of that country. Recommended for readers aged 8 and up, though I think it will appeal mostly to older (i.e. beyond YA) readers.