Ladies, First: Common Threads

by Debra Scala Giokas

LADIES, FIRST celebrates 18 first ladies, who, at one point in their lives, knitted, crocheted, embroidered, quilted, cross-stitched or sewed. Their inspirational stories will encourage an appreciation of craft and creativity, patience and perseverance, sacrifice and service, and most of all, the role of the first lady in the history of the United States of America.

Did you know that...

Dolley Madison sewed clothes for orphans and served as directress of an orphanage for girls.
Grace Coolidge crocheted the blanket on the Lincoln bed in the White House and had a pet raccoon.
Edith Roosevelt cross-stitched a sampler of Theodore Roosevelt's life and renovated the White House.
Lou Henry Hoover knitted baby blankets and earned the first degree in geology from Stanford University.
Eleanor Roosevelt knitted sweaters for the troops and was a humanitarian.
Barbara Bush needlepointed a rug in 17 countries and 35 states and promoted literacy.

This unique look at 18 first ladies, from Martha Washington to Abigail Adams to Ida McKinley to Helen Taft to Edith Wilson to Barbara Bush, will help readers touch history with a museum-like experience. Each inspiring story gives a glimpse into the minds and hearts of these historic women, threaded together by actual images of various needlework, as well as fascinating photos. Learn about these first ladies' lives, challenges and accomplishments and become inspired to create and make the world a better place, too.

Also includes places to travel to in the United States or virtually to learn more about the first ladies and their important place in history.

For readers 9 and up.

140 pages, Paperback

Published June 2, 2022

About the author

Debra Scala Giokas is a marketing communications professional. She earned a B.A. in English from Stony Brook University, holds an M.B.A in management, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Crochet Guild of America and the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island.

CLAIRE, her first picture book for children, is about American fashion designer, Claire McCardell. There is a companion coloring book, CLAIRE'S CLOSET.

LADIES, FIRST: COMMON THREADS is about 18 first ladies of the United States who have some connection to the needle arts. She offers readers (9 and up) a unique, museum-like way to explore the role of the first lady.

Visit debrascalagiokas.com.

Reviews

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is good to know some First Ladies were able to create time for needlework. I was especially pleased to learn that Barbara Bush worked on a needlepoint rug and it took her eight years to finish it. That takes perseverance, an important trait. It was also interesting to learn of Eleanor Roosevelt and her "Knitting Army" during WW II. I am hoping the Bibliography will give me more information about the First Ladies and their stitching projects. I felt the book needed an editor and a proofreader. The most glaring mistake (among many) was referring to the fact that President Wilson won the "Noble" Peace Prize which should have been spelled "Nobel".

[Arlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a needleworker myself, I was looking forward to this book but it let me down. It really should have been edited more thoroughly before publication. Some of it reads like a middle schooler's term paper. I did enjoy the pictures of the needlework especially the beautiful needlepoint rug by Barbara Bush, a colonial quilt by Martha Washington and the bedroom slippers that were crocheted by a first lady whose name slips my mind at the moment.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great idea for a book! You can see the heart and dedication the author put into researching and collecting information of the First Ladies’ needlework endeavors. Nicely presented and would be an asset in helping readers age 9 and up gain a deeper appreciation of the First Ladies.

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is most appropriate for a Middle School reader who wants to dig into presidential history. To say the author explored needlework through the eyes of the First Ladies is a bit of a stretch. It seemed that if the FL even picked up a needle once in her life, it was counted. The book was laid out with too much repetition and random facts were thrown together as if they were related. It would seem more appropriate to include the biographies of all the First Ladies and highlight under each their particular hobby or interest. Choosing to include only those who used the needle seemed incomplete. I picked up a few interesting historical facts, but with a few notable exceptions the needlework showcased was uninspiring.