A Quilt for Kiri - Level 19-20

A Quilt for Kiri is a touching story that follows the journey of a handmade quilt from the Cook Islands to a young girl named Kiri, becoming a meaningful connection to the grandmother she will never meet. Through rich imagery such as œmoonlight lay spread across her bed and evocative similes like œlike a big, wet rainbow, the narrative invites readers to explore deeper themes of memory, heritage, distance, and dreams. Carefully chosen adjectives and compound words support vocabulary development, while the inclusion of a map and cultural references encourage cross-curricular learning. The storyline fosters emotional literacy and empathy, especially as students interpret Kiri's feelings and the symbolic importance of the quilt. Suitable for guided reading, this text offers opportunities to explore literary devices, sequential writing, and character development. The underlying themes of family and cultural connection are woven through with gentle narration and meaningful visuals.

Educational Benefits:

• Develops understanding of literary devices such as similes, imagery, and adjectives
• Encourages exploration of emotional themes and cultural identity
• Enhances sequential writing and narrative comprehension
• Builds vocabulary with compound words and descriptive language

Classroom Ideas:

• Create a class quilt where each patch represents a student's family or background
• Map out the journey of the quilt and discuss the Cook Islands
• Identify and illustrate key similes and imagery in the text
• Write a reflective piece from Kiri's point of view

Information:

• Age Group: 8-10 years
• Reading Level: 19-20 (Purple)
• Format: Paperback reader
• Includes map and cultural references