Reuben and the Quilt
PreSchool-Grade 2Reuben and his Amish family, featured in Reuben and the Fire (1993) and Reuben and the Blizzard (1995, both Good Bks.), are back. Here, the boys best friends grandfather needs surgery, and the community is holding an auction to help with the costs. Reubens mother and sisters are making a quilt for the occasion. Several days before the auction, it is stolen from their front porch. Reubens father decides to turn the other cheek, so they leave a matching set of pillowcases by the roadside with a note inviting the thief to take it as well. Surprisingly, the next morning, the quilt is returned. Simple and gentle, this story gives readers a glimpse of Amish life. Mosss charming folk-art watercolors depict scenes of Lancaster, PA. The colors are those of Amish quilts, with touches of black, teal, purple, and red appearing throughout. The artists work has become more sophisticated, though there is some inconsistency with the earlier titles, namely in the hair color. Reuben is no longer blond, his sisters now have red hair, his twin buddies are no longer dark haired, and father seems to have found the Grecian Formula. This quibble aside, Reubens new adventure will be welcomed where the previous titles are popular.Angela J. Reynolds, West Slope Community Library, Portland, ORCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.