Paula's Patches
Grade K-4
Ages 5-9
Lexile 540L
Format Hardback
Trim Size 10" x 10"
Language English
ISBN 9781631987335
Item 899880
Page Count 32
Description
Problem-solver Paula patches her pants-and encourages her class to be resourceful, mend, and reuse.
Oh, no! While at school, Paula's pants catch on a bush that rips a large hole in her pants. She tries everything to hide the hole from her classmates, only to find out that they, too, have leaky lunchboxes, spaghetti stains, and hand-me-down backpacks. Nothing some colorful patches can't fix! Children will follow Paula as she feels embarrassed about her torn pants, curious about patches, and excited for a possible solution that helps both her and her classmates.
Paula's Patches can be used as a starting point for discussions of consumerism, throwaway culture, and fast fashion. At the back of the book, a section provides activities for children, including how to make their own patches, no-sew bookmarks, and fabric pouches.
A 2025 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award Nominee, 2024 International Latino Book Award Honorable Mention, and 2023 Foreword INDIES Finalist.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Paula’s Patches
“Sensitive to children’s fear of ridicule, the story shows how a creative solution for one person's problem can have positive ripple effects, helping others as well.”—Booklist
“Paula’s Patches is heartfelt tale of solving a dilemma through creativity and positivity. An inspiring take on a relatable experience for many young readers.”—Karina Nicole González author of the award-winning The Coquíes Still Sing
“A child’s worries over torn trousers prompt unexpected creativity in Aldeman’s sensitive picture book debut.”—Publishers Weekly
“Aldeman’s sweet, relatable book and lovable protagonist Paula will inspire empathy and creative problem solving in even the youngest readers. A great book for home, school, or library, it even has back matter with easy projects for budding sewers!”—Alliah L. Agostini, author of Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince and the award-winning The Juneteenth Story
“A sweet, heartwarming story that touches on a range of big feelings—embarrassment, struggle, ingenuity, and finally pride. Engaging text and vibrant illustrations make this a perfect addition to any library.”—Debra Kempf Shumaker, author of Tell Someone, Freaky Funky Fish, and Peculiar Primates
“A rip, a spill, or a tear might ruin anyone’s day, but not Paula’s! In Paula’s Patches, we discover how one creative kid solves the problem while learning about visible mending too!”—Adriana Hernández Bergstrom, author-illustrator of Abuelita and I Make Flan
“Paula’s Patches is a beautiful text that will reassure all readers that the clothes they wear should not be a source of embarrassment. But most importantly, I see it as a testament to the power of creative thinking as a problem-solving tool. As a mom, tree hugger, hand-me-down enthusiast, and author, I am so excited to read this book to my daughter and I cannot wait to see what other stories Gabriella Aldeman is stitching up.”—Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, author of Plátanos Are Love
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