Looks at the history of American quilts, shows and describes traditional patterns, and offers advice on planning and making a quilt.

Meet the people, the quilts, and the stories discovered nationally by the thousands of volunteers who have registered more than 157,000 quilts in state quilt documentation projects. Explore the American experience through these state projects.

Looks at the art, craft, and history of quilts made by African-American women and offers instructions for making a keepsake quilt.

Each quilt was essential-often the difference between life and death. Some hung on porch rails to secretly indicate the way to freedom. Others just kept the children warm. Each told a story. Kids will learn how African American women excelled at this now much-admired craft, and will learn to make their own quilt and even stuff into a 3-dimensional shape for a forever keepsake! This 36-page reproducible book involves thinking first and doing second as well as planning, budgeting, scheduling, quality control, cooperation, and many more skills that are critical for a child's education.

"Our goal would be to collect pictures and stories about the quilts and coverlets owned by members of the TSDAR."--p.3.

Author recommends use of products within the publishers 1000 Readers series (http://www.gallopade.com/showproducts.cfm?Step=1 & FullCat=556).