An old woman pieces together a story quilt consisting of a dream about her man lost at sea, her daily life, her cat, and her friendship with neighborhood kids. She's waiting to be with her man again, and meanwhile, she gardens, quilts, and bakes for a Halloween treat.

There is a definite quilting motif in the illustrations (thread and scissors, borders, pieces stray and assembled, the moon cycle strips for time passing). Most of the pictures look drawn or painted. Some appear to have fabric, others maybe some paper collage.

The illustrations are my favorite part of the book. There are some really nice combinations (the moons, the pumpkins and pies, the lady and cat in the moonlight, the lady and cat next to the flower for the quilt, the pieced garden, her dreams). The story itself is very different. It seemed strange to me at first, but it's growing on me as I reread. I particularly like the gardening, the Halloween party, and the winter rest.

related-quilts and quilting, sewing, dreams, cats, old people, Halloween
RL=K-2nd, read aloud to toddlers-K