Therese Makes A Tapestry

Therese Makes A Tapestry

Picture book
These days what pass for tapestries are pretty much mass
produced, nothing really special. It wasn't always this way. In the
seventeenth century they were painstakingly created from hand spun and
dyed yarn and woven from cartoons created from paintings on complex
looms. Some of these creations were fit for kings. Literally.
Alexandra S. D. Hinrich's Therese Makes A Tapestry takes the reader
back in time to witness this.
Therese's family consists of painters and weavers who create
tapestries for King Louis XIV of France. Therese dreams of someday
working a loom. However, the actual painting and weaving are done by
men. The women do the behind the scenes stuff like spinning.
One day when he returns from traveling with the king and
painting scenes, Therese's father gives her a very special present: a
beautiful painting he has created for her. She wishes that she could
create him something truly special in return for such a precious gift.
What if she could weave this picture into a painting she can
give her father on his next visit home...
...accompanied by the king.
Any girl or woman who has chafed under gender role restrictions
or worked hard to do away with them will love this tale of a spunky
and determined protagonist meeting challenges aplenty in the name of
love.
On a personal note, even picture books set in the past require
extensive research to ensure accuracy. Someday my many journals,
which I shall leave to UMaine, will be treasures for future
researchers and writers. This makes me quite pleased.
A great big shout out goes out to people who create primary sources
and writers who utilize them skillfully in their narratives.
jules hathaway


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