Story Quilts from Reycraft Books Uncovers the Lives and Histories of Women in the Appalachians
The nonfiction picture book demonstrates the power and endurance of storytelling, regardless of location or culture.
New Rochelle, NY, Oct. 24, 2022—Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books is proud to present the critically-acclaimed picture book, Story Quilts: Appalachian Women Speak,by award-winning author Shannon Hitchcock and innovative illustrator Sophie Page. Published in hardcover on September 30, 2022, the book offers a unique look at how women of the Appalachian Mountains—many of whom lived in poverty and could not read or write—used the quilts that they sewed together from colorful scraps of cloth to tell the stories of their lives, their experiences, and the world in which they lived. These patchwork quilts revealed the realities, the history, and the beauty of mountain life.
Hitchcock, who has written two other books for Reycraft about Appalachian storytellers—Saving Granddaddy’s Stories: Ray Hicks, the Voice of Appalachia and She Sang for the Mountains: The Story of Singer, Songwriter, Activist Jean Ritchie—says Story Quilts is the third book in what turned out to be a “trilogy.” According to Hitchcock, the idea of doing three related books was suggested by her editor, Wiley Blevins. “It really was a case of an editor connecting with a story,” Hitchcock said. “Wiley is from West Virginia, so the mountains and Appalachian culture resonated with him. I loved the trilogy idea.”
Hitchcock said that for her, storytelling has always been a way to travel back in time. “I grew up on a hundred-acre farm in a family of storytellers,” she explained. “I loved hearing my grandparents and uncles talk about the times before I was born. All of my favorite books were historical. One of my favorite things about being a writer is becoming immersed in another place and time.”
Story Quilts is brought to visual and multidimensional life by Page’s stunning, vibrant, mixed-media artwork, which she created using clay, paper, fabric, and wire. “This book was an absolute joy to illustrate,” Page said. “I love the way it highlights the lives and artistry of mountain women quilters throughout time.”
Publishers Weekly described Story Quilts as “visually arresting” and said the illustrations “provide an appealing dimensionality, imbuing the quilts—and the intergenerational figures of various skin tones portrayed throughout—with an appropriately homemade quality.” Kirkus Reviews called the book “a loving tribute to perseverance and inner strength.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shannon Hitchcock was born in North Carolina and grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of four middle grade novels, Flying Over Water, One True Way, Ruby Lee & Me, and The Ballad of Jesse Pearl. Her books have been featured on many state award lists and have received critical acclaim. Shannon currently lives in North Carolina, where she can see the mountains every day.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Sophie Page is a mixed media illustrator originally from Conway, Massachusetts, and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She crafts images in two and three dimensions to tell stories for all ages.
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.