Born:New York, New York,
Current Home:
Chicago, Illinois,
United States Of America
Jeff Brumbeau
Biography
Jeff Brumbeau grew up in New York City, where he lived with his mother and sister in his widowed grandmother's house. His mother worked hard to support her family, who struggled to get by. Jeff has had a variety of jobs befitting a degree in English, he says, including pumping gas, carpentry, painting, working in a mail room, car wash, factory, and candy store, on an oil rig in Wyoming and in advertising.
It was his exposure to independent, self-sufficient women early on, Jeff believes, that later inspired him to write children's books, The Man-In-The-Moon in Love and The Quiltmaker's Gift. The Quiltmaker is independent, and she has scruples. Ultimately, it is her clarity, determination, and vision that overcome the resitance and the greed of the king, and help him discover a more joyful way of living through giving.
The same is true with Miss Hunnicutt's Hat. In this tale, however, the woman starts out as timid and unsure of herself when she decides to put on a new and very unusual hat. As the day passes, though, and she continues to stand up to the townspeople, who object to her chicken hat, she becomes stronger and more sure of herself. At last she proclaims, “I have the right to wear what I like.”
Growing up, Jeff was interested in tales with a strong moral base, especially those found in eighteenth and nineteenth century children's literature. In his stories, he wanted to create the same vibrancy and ethical values that are found in the classic tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm Brothers. For The Quiltmaker's Gift, he selected the quilt as a symbol for the theme of giving and sharing, because a quuilt represents the ultimate gift. It offers both practical warmth and artistic beauty.
He lives in Chicago and Taos with Marcia, his wife; Samantha, the opera-singing Persian cat; and Louis, the daredevil alley cat.
Visit Jeff Brumbeau's Web site.
- Teacher Store
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The Quiltmaker's Journey
The Teacher Store 
The Quiltmaker's Journey
by Jeff Brumbeau and Gail De MarckenSure to be embraced by old and new fans of The Quiltmaker's Gift, this sumptuously illustrated prequel tells the story behind the quiltmaker's spirit of generosity and giving. Escaping from the protective walls of wealth and privilege, a young girl discovers the harsh world outside, where some people don't have as much as others. When she realizes that she has the power to help them, the young girl finds a strength and peace she never knew before. Making the loveliest quilts in all the land, th
$17.95
Hardcover Book | Grades 2-5
Grades 2-5 $17.95
- Scholastic Store
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Bone #3: Eyes of the Storm
The Scholastic Store 
Bone #3: Eyes of the Storm
by Jeff Smith and Steve HamakerLucius, Smiley, and Phoney survive an attack by the rat creatures, but back at the farm, Fone Bone and Thorn are troubled by strange dreams -- and Gran'ma Ben's reaction to them is stranger still. She reveals a long-kept secret about Thorn, a secret that may mean they have to leave the farm forever. Volume 3 of the 9-book BONE saga.
$9.99
Page Turners
This graphic novel series builds reading confidence and competence through witty prose and arresting illustrations.
Learning Curve
"Graphic novel" is a term used by librarians, educators, and booksellers to indicate a publishing format--books written and illustrated in the style of a comic book, consisting of "sequential art"--a series of illustrations which, when viewed in order, tell a story. Although today's graphic novels are a recent phenomenon, this basic way of storytelling has been used in various forms for centuries--early cave drawings, hieroglyphics, and medieval tapestries like the famous Bayeux Tapestry can be thought of as stories told in pictures. The term graphic novel is now generally used to describe any book in a comic format that resembles a novel in length and narrative development.
School librarians and educators have reported outstanding success getting kids to read with graphic novels, citing particularly their popularity with reluctant readers, especially boys--a group traditionally difficult to reach. At the same time, graphic novels with rich, complex plots and narrative structures can also be satisfying to advanced readers.
Want to learn more about graphic novels? Check out our discussion guide here .
books;paperback books;graphic novel | Ages 9-12
Ages 9-12 $9.99
ARTICLE
