Patchwork

by Matt de la Peña, Corinna Luyken (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Matt de la Peña, Newbery Medal-winning author of classics such as Last Stop on Market Street, Love and Milo Imagines the World continues his tradition of creating deeply thoughtful, celebratory compositions for every child. A shelf full of de la Peña's work is a shelf full of hope, love and acceptance.

From a Newbery Medal-winning author and a New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a deeply moving ode to the complexity and uniqueness of every child.

In profound, uplifting verse and sumptuous artwork, beloved creators Matt de la Peña and Corinna Luyken explore the endless possibilities each child contains: A young dancer may grow into a computer coder; a basketball player might become a poet; a class clown may one day serve as an inspiring teacher; and today’s quiet empath might be tomorrow’s great leader. Here's a profound and uplifting new classic with an empowering message for readers of all ages: Your story is still being written.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984813961
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/30/2022
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Matt de la Peña is the author of the Newbery Medal-winning Last Stop on Market Street, Milo Imagines the World, Carmela Full of Wishes, Love, and A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis, as well as a number of critically acclaimed young adult novels. You can visit Matt at mattdelapena.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @mattdelapena.

Corinna Luyken is the author-illustrator of the New York Times bestseller My Heart, The Tree In Me, and The Book of Mistakes. She is also the illustrator of Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse, Nothing in Common, and Something Good. You can visit Corinna at corinnaluyken.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @corinnaluyken.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Patchwork:
A New York Times Best Children’s Book of the Year
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
A Kids' Indie Next List Pick
A NCTE Notable Poetry Book

“In beautiful verse with artwork to match, this picture book explores the unexpected ways children might grow into themselves.” —TODAY.com

“The call to revel in the glorious patchwork that is 'us' blazes forth from this paean of acceptance.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Celebrates the potential found in every child . . . An apt and inspiring message, beautifully rendered.” —Booklist

“An exultant picture book salute to kids who are a little different . . . De la Peña is at his compassionate best.” —Shelf Awareness

“The pastel spongework patterns that Luyken overlays on these portraits of children aptly evoke de la Peña’s liberating theme: We are not indelibly drawn at birth; our identities shift and blend and bloom.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A poetic ode to possibility that’s perfect for readers who love de la Peña’s lyricism and Luyken’s effortlessly impressionistic art.” —BookPage

“Celebrates [kids'] capacity to explore and change . . . conveying the heartening idea that lives of meaning emerge . . . from 'mismatched scraps accumulated over time/ and stitched together/ into a kind of patchwork.' ” —Publishers Weekly

“A celebration of children and what they may become as successful adults.” —School Library Journal

“Gentle and affirming.” —The Horn Book

“This beautiful picture book depicts the passage of time in a sort of poem—it’s a true masterpiece.” —Brightly

“A beautifully illustrated story of a child exploring self-identity.” —The San Diego Union-Tribune

From the Publisher

★ 2022-06-08
Being pigeonholed or restricted limits the multifaceted expressions of humanity.

Children blossom with the encouragement to explore and define themselves. But de la Peña and Luyken demonstrate that even before we are born, we are steered to fit into molds that often chafe, from gender-reveal events (“You were blue before you were even born”) to the restrictive opinions of educators (“You are the kid perpetually in time-out”). But the freedom to experiment offers many opportunities; a love of dancing might lead to coding or a passion for sports to spinning “couplets on your finger.” Whether you discover the transformative power of kindness or harness ideas to pull people to your cause, the infinite choices that form the rich canvas of our lives are empowering. With a nudge here and a turn there, each jolt of awareness reveals the kaleidoscopic expanse of realities within us all. De la Peña’s lyrical observations and proclamations take the mind from complacent to questioning to affirming. His gentle guidance from page to page creates a poetry of understanding—we are more than what is expected of us. Luyken depicts a diverse group of children, using a palette of pastel pink, blue, lavender, and yellow and a subtle pattern evoking patchwork on each page to highlight the transformative power of self-discovery. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

The call to revel in the glorious patchwork that is “us” blazes forth from this paean of acceptance. (Picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews

Only six minutes in length, this sweet but quick title is provided an emotional and heartfelt narration by a masterful ensemble. Full of hope and compassion, each narrator delivers a brief account in the second person of how one's identity grows and evolves to be much more than any trait, label, or quality. The writing is naturally poetic, allowing the narration to be lyrical, and each performer maintains a gentle portrayal at an impeccable pace. This beautiful audiobook reminds listeners to recognize their potential and to accept themselves and all their changing facets. This title is intended for a younger audience and pairs best with the beautifully illustrated print version. Regardless, the audiobook will tug at the heartstrings of any age listener. E.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Only six minutes in length, this sweet but quick title is provided an emotional and heartfelt narration by a masterful ensemble. Full of hope and compassion, each narrator delivers a brief account in the second person of how one's identity grows and evolves to be much more than any trait, label, or quality. The writing is naturally poetic, allowing the narration to be lyrical, and each performer maintains a gentle portrayal at an impeccable pace. This beautiful audiobook reminds listeners to recognize their potential and to accept themselves and all their changing facets. This title is intended for a younger audience and pairs best with the beautifully illustrated print version. Regardless, the audiobook will tug at the heartstrings of any age listener. E.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile