de la Pena, Matt. Patchwork. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2022. 978-1-9848-1396-1. Unpaged. $18.99.  Grades K-2.

In this inspirational work, de la Pena describes the amazing potential of each child and how it can be realized as an adult.  Every child has his or her own interests and qualities, but these do not remain static. Over time, attributes may be transformed or repurposed and individuals will choose their own destinies as adults. A boy, who talks out in class and makes jokes, can grow up to use his outgoing nature to become a “favorite teacher” to a fidgety student. A girl, who loves the rhythm of dance, can grow up to appreciate the patterns of math as a coder. The author cautions against becoming discouraged when things seem to go off-track, because each path is unique. Like a patchwork quilt, the possibilities found in each child come from the “scraps” of personal experiences and emotions. As de la Pena puts it, “You are more than a single note played again and again. You are a symphony.” Luyken uses soft and muted colors in her drawings, which are done with gouache, ink, and pencil. Each image contains a subtle patchwork design and the illustrator uses a different color for each child’s vignette. 

THOUGHTS: This is a reassuring and uplifting story of individuality and self-realization. Recommended for elementary collections.

Picture Book          Denise Medwick, PSLA Member, Retired