Paula’s Patches
Gabriella Aldeman, illus. by Rocío Arreola Mendoza. Free Spirit, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-6319-8733-5
A child’s worries over torn trousers prompt unexpected creativity in Aldeman’s sensitive picture book debut. When Latinx-cued narrator Paula snags one trouser knee en route to school, “I knew I would have to wait for the next batch of hand-me-downs from my cousin.” Afraid that schoolmates, portrayed with varying skin tones, will laugh at the tear, Paula covers it during class, props a food tray over it at lunch, and uses a sweater to cover it. As these efforts progress, Paula notices that a classmate’s backpack is labeled with another person’s name, that a spill stains a friend’s favorite shirt, and that another classmate carries a blanket pieced from baby clothes. Remembering that “Mami kept old, worn clothes and fabric scraps” in the closet, Paula problem-solves, creating homemade patches for the pants—and classmates’ clothes, too. Mendoza’s patterned illustrations lean into a bright palette in this book about “mending, and decorating, and making things our very own.” An author’s note and three “Fun with Fabric” projects conclude. Ages 5–9. (July)
Details
Reviewed on: 06/29/2023
Genre: Children's
Other - 1 pages - 978-1-63198-734-2
Other - 1 pages - 978-1-63198-735-9