These are the introductory paragraphs to a bibliography of children's books about quilts published in Book Links , May 1991, p. 24-27.
Quilts are versatile.
The ways they are used, the stories they tell, and the varieties of design are probably infinite. Quilts may be linked in our minds with pioneers, but they have a place in American life that is broader than that. To be sure, they have almost always reflected the skill and artistry of women, but women have made quilts in an array of settings, for many different reasons. Children's books depicting quilts are as diverse in theme as the patterns they display. For all of these reasons, books about quilts belong in homes and classrooms.