Tanya's Reunion

In this tender yet unromanticized sequel to The Patchwork Quilt, young Tanya accompanies her grandmother to Virginia in preparation for a grand family reunion. But while Grandma fondly remembers growing up on the Virginia farm and is thrilled to be ``home,'' Tanya is disappointed to see a dusty old road and a farmhouse that is ``just a faded memory of its original color.'' Tanya grows lonely and homesick, until Grandma helps her see her family history in a new light. Flournoy's fluid text has a comforting tone and she supplies a bounty of detail without slowing the narrative. Pinkney's pencil and watercolor art skillfully conveys the bustle of activity found in a large household. He dots the crowded farmhouse interior -with quilts, books and knick-knacks, rendering the rooms as lived in and well loved. The predominance of soft brown and yellow hues also provides an almost palpable warmth throughout. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)