Josefina, Faith's pet hen, causes all kinds of problems on the wagon train to California until the night she saves her family from robbers - (Baker & Taylor)
While traveling west with her family in 1850, a young girl makes a patchwork quilt chronicling the experiences of the journey and reserves a special patch for her pet hen Josefina. - (Baker & Taylor)
Animated pictures capture the drama and warmth of this historically based, affectionate story of good and bad times on a nineteenth-century wagon-train journey.‘Coerr packs strong emotions into the story, which is detailed and eventful enough to create vivid historical setting within the confines of a beginning-to-read format." —BL.
Children's Editors' Choices for 1986 (BL)
Notable 1986 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)
The USA Through Children's Books 1985 (ALA) - (HARPERCOLL)
Horn Book Guide Reviews
Written in simple and appealing prose, the carefully translated Spanish version of [cf2]The Josefina Story Quilt[cf1] (Harper) is as delightful as the original edition in its authentic depiction of a pioneer family's westward journey to California. The author's note provides an informative background for the young reader. Copyright 1998 Horn Book Guide Reviews
School Library Journal Reviews
Gr 1-3 Faith is allowed to take her pet hen, Josefina, along in her family's covered wagon to California on one condition: ``. . .if she makes any trouble, OUT SHE GOES!'' Josefina survives some close calls with trouble, but when robbers raid the camp and Josefina squawks a warning, she earns Pa's praise and gratitude. Unfortunately, it's Josefina's last gasp. Faith mourns her but sews another patch for her memory quilt in honor of her hen. When the family reaches California, the quilt they sew tells the story of their journey. Children will appreciate Faith's bond with her pet and the details of an 1850 adventure. The story makes the history go down easily, and an author's note at the end fills in facts about the western trip and the place of quilts as pioneer diaries. The charcoal and blue/yellow wash illustrations are clear and natural, but little attention is paid to matching up quilt squares with the story's action. On the whole, a good introduction to historical fiction that children can read for themselves. Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information.
