Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt

by Rob Sanders, Jamey Christoph (Illustrator)

Overview

From the blanket that his great-grandmother made for him as a boy, to the friends he gathered together in San Francisco as a young man, to the idea for a monument sewn of fabric and thread, Cleve Jones’ extraordinary life seems to have been stitched together bit by bit, piece by piece.

Mentored by Harvey Milk, Jones first had the vision for what became the AIDS Memorial Quilt during a candlelight memorial for Milk in 1985. Along with friends, Cleve created the first panels for the quilt in 1987. The AIDS Memorial Quilt grew to be one of the largest public arts projects ever and helped grow awareness of HIV and AIDS. The Quilt is an iconic symbol of hope and remembrance and is Jones' shining achievement. It has since toured the world and been seen by millions.

This evocative biography is a touching tribute to Jones' life of advocacy, the positive effects of a community working towards a common goal, and an inspiring story for young readers. Includes a timeline and extensive back matter. 
 
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433837395
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rob Sanders is a former elementary school teacher who writes funny and fierce fiction and non-fiction. He is the author of such acclaimed titles as Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution, and Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights. He lives in Brandon, Florida. Visit RobSandersWrites.com, @YesRobSandersWrites on Facebook, and @RobSandersWrite on Twitter.

Jamey Christoph has created illustrations that have appeared in the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, and has received distinguished recognition from the Society of Illustrators for his work on Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America. Jamey lives in Ohio with his partner and two dogs. Visit jameychristoph.com, @JameyChristophIlustration on Facebook, and @JameyChristoph on Instagram.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/06/2021

This neatly woven picture book biography features Cleve Jones (b. 1954), a white gay man who moved to San Francisco, became a mentee of Harvey Milk, and eventually came up with the idea for the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Sanders emphasizes the quilt theme throughout, while aptly conveying Cleve’s milestones: “Cleve soon had/ a patchwork of/ friends...// held together by a/ common thread.” When an epidemic—later called AIDS—sweeps through the gay community and beyond, Jones plans the sewn monument to AIDS victims, which was displayed on the National Mall in 1987 before touring the world. Christoph contributes fine-lined art in a light-colored palette, showcasing a cast of varying skin tones. A rhythmic poem by Sanders, presented in full via the ample back matter, ties this richly informative book together. Back matter includes a discussion guide, glossary, more information on Cleve Jones and another Quilt contributor, and an author’s note. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 2021-08-18
Learn the history of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt stitch by stitch.

Cleve Jones, San Franciscan activist and mentee of Harvey Milk, is the central figure in an informative picture book that captures the history and tone of the era in which the AIDS Quilt grew. While in San Francisco, Cleve witnessed a mysterious illness that was sweeping through the gay male community, killing the majority of victims. On Nov. 27, 1985, Jones helped organize a march to remember recently assassinated politicians Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Cleve and a co-organizer handed out cardboard and markers, asking participants to write down names of friends who’d died of AIDS. The sight of these names taped to the walls of San Francisco’s Federal Building became the impetus for the quilt. Its story is beautifully captured in the book’s smooth pacing and brief paragraphs. Readers will follow its journey from that march as it becomes both a monument to mourning and a means of changing the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS. The weighty backmatter, which includes discussion points, a glossary, timeline, biographies, and brief bibliography, will help educators and caregivers guide further learning. The racial diversity on display throughout the book is admirable; it’s a shame that diversity did not extend to body shapes as well. This quibble aside, the book is pretty darn impressive. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Storytelling and history, beautifully stitched together. (Informational picture book. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews