When I need a quick read I look through my online reader saves and find all sorts of goodies. One of those was A Language of Stitches: The Radical Quilts of Rosie Lee Tompkins by Constance Moore. Read (obviously) via an online reader, this book is due end of July-early August 2026.
Rosie Lee Tompkins (born Effie Mae Martin ) reminds me of the artist Sister Mary Corita Kent because of their artistic style. Both were unusual, yet they were products of their time. They both shared a strong background of faith. And they spoke to the world at the time when things needed to be said. The artwork showing Tompkins’ story is a good representation of what I suspect her quilts looked like and represented.
This biography is good for black history, women’s history, art history and for the current or future quilter among us. The story is not new (women of color, coming from a poor and segregated background) but the way Tompkins gave back, showed the situation is. It is a slightly longer picture book that will not be for everyone, but is a good book to have in a collection. It might need to be promoted by physically putting it into the hands of a child, or displaying it with faceouts in your store or library, but it needs to be read. In many ways, this book is best for adults, but I would love to see kids of almost any age (younger readers might not sit for a reading) pick it up.
