Haus-Hold Picture Book Review: The Memory Quilt

A Story of Compassion, Friendship, and Learning to Cope with Loss

You probably already know all about Lori Keating. She's the talented author of the young adult novel BUTTERFLY INK (Monarch, 2024) and the upcoming ANGELS IN THE SAND (Caterpillar, 2025). She's also one of the #midweekcritique hosts on Twitter/X, offering weekly critique giveaways, and runs #KidlitMeetnGreet alongside April Berry. Lori is a huge supporter of the kidlit community.

It's hard enough to write picture books about happy, upbeat topics. Writing books that focus on tough, heavy topics in a way that's approachable for young children is a skill that does not come easy. I've tried it! Lori Keating has succeeded in crafting a tender tale of friendship and coping with the loss of a close friend. With beautiful illustrations by Alyssa Grizenko, this story is perfect for anyone struggling with loss and how to guide children through it.

"Lori's tender prose and Alyssa's warm and delightful illustrations make it easy for young readers to comprehend that the characters are dealing with profound loss without being too heartbreaking."

Synopsis

When Grace's neighbor and friend, Jason, unexpectedly dies, Grace grieves his loss. She notices that Jason's parents don't smile anymore and wants to do something nice to help them. Using Jason's old clothing, Grace makes a quilt for Jason's parents as a way to support them and process her own feelings as well.

What my Kids Loved: My youngest is only 3, and I have to admit that he didn't understand the deeper, heavier concepts here. He enjoyed the illustrations, especially as Grace pieced together the quilt. My older son was surprised- in a good way- that a picture book would discuss the death of a child. It made him feel more grown-up, like the world knows he's big enough to handle tough topics, and he liked seeing a character who was proactive in how she handled her feelings and the feelings of those around her. He felt like Jason was a boy he would have been friends with if the characters existed in real life.

What I Loved: It's so tough to convey heavy emotions in a way that is palatable for children. I loved that Lori's tender prose and Alyssa's warm and delightful illustrations make it easy for young readers to comprehend that the characters are dealing with profound loss without being too heartbreaking. I also thought the inclusion of back matter on quilting added a layer of depth and creates another opportunity for children to make connections with the characters and concepts in the book.

My favorite lines:

She gets to the plaid square, pauses, and fights back the tears. Last fall, Jason helped her build the winning soapbox car, and the white paint they used still remains.

Final thoughts: This book is beautifully written, rich in imagery and tenderness, and could be a wonderful tool to guide difficult conversations around loss and grief. THE MEMORY QUILT would make a wonderful addition to any book collection.

You can request THE MEMORY QUILT from your local library or purchase from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers- but don't forget to check your local independent bookstore first!