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95th out of 391 books
—
556 voters
Christmas Tapestry
When a bad leak ruins the sacristy wall in his father's church, Jonathan Jefferson Weeks thinks his family's first Christmas Eve service in Detroit will be ruined, too. But then he and his father find a beautiful tapestry for sale in a secondhand shop. Just the thing to cover the damaged wall and give the church a festive look! But then, amazingly, an old Jewish woman who...more
Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
September 23rd 2002
by Philomel Books
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Jan 12, 2010
Lisa Vegan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Christmastime reading, and would work for Chanukkah too; PKs
I love this author/illustrator but was not in the mood for a Christmas book at all. Throughout much of it was a bit too Christian religious for me, but hey, it’s a Christmas book. Even by the end it was a tad too much “everything happens for a reason” for me.
However, I loved this story, and the winter themed illustrations are lovely. I loved that Polacco found a way to include Judaism in her book and halfway through when we meet the elderly Jewish woman, my “Patricia Polacco tears" (as I now cal...more
However, I loved this story, and the winter themed illustrations are lovely. I loved that Polacco found a way to include Judaism in her book and halfway through when we meet the elderly Jewish woman, my “Patricia Polacco tears" (as I now cal...more
Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco is a picture book intended for readers in grades three through six. I gave it four stars. Jonathan Jefferson Weeks, a young boy, and his family have moved from Tennessee to Detroit so that his father could work at and fix up a church. Jonathan is frustrated by the move, but with hard work and determination, the church is made beautiful again. However, just before Christmas mass, a snowstorm causes a large gaping hole in the wall of the sacristy. Through Jo...more
Just when I think that Patricia Polacco couldn't possibly have written another tearjerker that tugs ever so mightily at the heartstrings, here she goes again. I discovered this book at our local library as it was displayed for the coming holidays and I was thrilled to find yet another of her tales that we hadn't yet read. I wasn't ready for the ride this one took us on, that's for sure.
It was a story of miracles, of God, of fate or kismet or whatever you want to call it. But it was a story of w...more
It was a story of miracles, of God, of fate or kismet or whatever you want to call it. But it was a story of w...more
PB 25: I appreciated this tale because it possessed many great qualities for a children’s book. I loved the descriptions that Polacco gave to create the atmosphere of the holiday season. The vivid details, along with the beautifully sketched images allowed me to immerse myself in the book. I found the book to be most powerful at the end where all the individual stories became woven together. I think it is a magical holiday tale that highlights the importance of hope and behaving altruistically (...more
My goal is to have a good Christmas list created next year so I'm reading several of them off season. This is my first gotta-put-it-on-my-goodreads-Christmas-list book.
Christmas Tapestry is a lovely story created from two separate stories that were told as true (see notes at the end). The story is a reminder that hard things can be a blessing in the hands of God. The story is complex enough that it probably isn't a fit for the youngest listeners. Still, it has much to offer to the older child o...more
Christmas Tapestry is a lovely story created from two separate stories that were told as true (see notes at the end). The story is a reminder that hard things can be a blessing in the hands of God. The story is complex enough that it probably isn't a fit for the youngest listeners. Still, it has much to offer to the older child o...more
Make sure you have a box of tissues close by when you begin reading this book.
Based upon a "tale" that was told to the author some years ago, it is a heartwarming story of a young man trying to cope with a recent move from his hometown to Detroit. While struggling to make sense of things, it just so happens that at Christmas time God uses a water-damaged wall, a car that wouldn't start, a "used" tapestry, a chance meeting at a bus stop, along with Jonathan and his father to reunite a married Je
...more
The story of a pastor and his family, and their move to Detroit to help revitalize the church in the area. When there is damage to the main wall after a blizzard, the parson's son, Jonathan, doesn't think there is anything that can fix it before Christmas. He and his father go to town to find decorations for the church, and through a serious of seeming coincidences, they end up being part of a true Christmas miracle. A beautiful tapestry they find to cover the damage reconnects two people who ha...more
Patricia Polacco and her family have led the most amazing life. I am an avid reader of her picture books, and am always amazed by the reveal on the last page that the story is true and based on her life, her mother, her grandmother, neighbor, friend, etc... She is an incredible story-teller who clearly values the truth in the stories she tells. This is another beautifully written narrative about love, loss, and serendipitous luck. After what seems like a nightmare problem (a hole in the church r...more
Polacco is most certainly one of the best, if not the best, storytellers of all time. Her illustrations compliment her beautifully crafted story.
This is not your average Christmas story. Jonathan Jefferson Weeks did not believe that everything happens for a reason, he thought it was bad luck that his family had to move from beautiful Memphis to dreary Detroit. His father is a pastor and accepted a position in Detroit because he knew he could bring the Church to life...and they did. But a winter...more
This is not your average Christmas story. Jonathan Jefferson Weeks did not believe that everything happens for a reason, he thought it was bad luck that his family had to move from beautiful Memphis to dreary Detroit. His father is a pastor and accepted a position in Detroit because he knew he could bring the Church to life...and they did. But a winter...more
A middle school student lent this to me, very excited that she had something to share for our Holocaust unit. I've heard the story before through emails, but it was cool to see it told through Patricia Polacco's illustrated children's book. It reminds us that one never knows what the universe has in mind for us and that things we see as problems may very well turn out to fantastic. I read this to my 3rd grader and had to carefully avoid detailed discussion of the Nazis, but she loved the story!
Liked the story, but it was hard to suspend belief. I want stories with all these miraculous twists to be true instead of made up.
Spoiler alert...
Where is the story of an unlikely meeting years later between a husband and wife separated in the Holocaust,who thought each other dead, that serves to reunite them? That is the story that should be made into a children's book. But maybe there isn't a real story like that out there... so this is the next best thing.
Spoiler alert...
Where is the story of an unlikely meeting years later between a husband and wife separated in the Holocaust,who thought each other dead, that serves to reunite them? That is the story that should be made into a children's book. But maybe there isn't a real story like that out there... so this is the next best thing.
I'm positively biased toward Polacco's story-telling and illustrations (so uniquely her own), but this was a particularly moving story. My 4-year-old was not quite ready for this yet, but I predict within the year she'll better appreciate it. Just an FYI, the book deals with the topic of the Holocaust, and it's quite emotional. By "quite emotional," I mean that I was sobbing uncontrollably at the end of the book.
Snuggled up with Eli on the couch, this book made me cry "happy tears"--as Emma says. Eli said his teacher had read this story at school with a different title (made me want to check it out on snopes.com--not that it claims truth) touching, nonetheless. One I would like to revisit.
I like holiday stories with substance. In this "christmas" miracle story- a tapestry used to cover damage at the holiday becomes the source of a joyous reunion of holocaust survivors. Meaningful, yet accessible for kids.
The only bad thing about this book is that I can't read it aloud to my kids. Two pages in and I'm bawling my eyes out, anticipating the ending. There is no more perfect compliment to this tale than Polacco's signature artwork.
Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite authors. I find you are either a huge fan, or you are not and no in betweens. I am the former, for sure.
This story is a wonderful tale of love and endurance.
This story is a wonderful tale of love and endurance.
I enjoyed this book. My kids...not so much. It is a long book and there us a lot to read on each page and they lost interest within the first few pages. But, I liked the story. It was sweet.
A tapestry is purchased to cover up a hole in the wall at a church, and it is recognized by two people that have been separated for many many years. Wonderful story of a great Christmas miracle.
This is an adaptation of a story that Ms. Polacco heard in church. As usual, her storytelling is good, but it wasn't as interesting to me as the stories that are based on her own family.
this wasn't my favorite of hers. While it was enjoyable, it felt a little too contrived. I guess you never know, though! Sometimes the world is very small.
One of the best Patricia Polacco books! I dug out our advent/Christmas basket today and it was the first one that the kids wanted to read. Beautiful story!
A nice reminder that the Universe weaves together seemingly unrelated, even inconvenient events into a beautiful tapestry.
Great story! Enjoyed the writing and the illustrations. A great feel good book for the holidays, and to read aloud!
Cried like a baby. So many themes tied seemlessly, poignantly together Polacco-style.
A heart warming story abouta Christmas miracle and boy overcoming moving to a new place.
Supposedly true story of a Christmas miracle. Great story and pictures.
Apr 12, 2013
Felicia Wesley
added it
Great story that helps to teach good character traits.Helps teach values.
One of the best children's books I've ever read. It really gives me hope.
Re-read. This book gives me goosebumps every time I read it.
Jun 08, 2012
Teresa
added it
A Christmas love story. Perfect and Polacco are synonyms.
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Nov 27, 2010 09:29am