Gr 1-3-In the spring of 1850, Faith's family begins their journey to California in a covered wagon. Her pet hen, Josefina, "too old to lay eggs and to tough to eat," keeps her company and shares the hardships on the way. As their wagon crosses a wide river, it lurches, Faith loses her hold on Josefina, and the current nearly sweeps the hen away. Crossing the desert with little food or water, Faith will not trade her pet to the Indians. Later when robbers creep into camp late at night, Josefina squawks loudly. Pa calls her a "humdinger of a watchdog," but the excitement is too much for the old hen. Faith's brother buries her beneath a pine tree on the trail, and the heartbroken little girl makes a pine tree patch to remember. Reaching California, Ma helps Faith put together all the patchwork pieces she has made, and the child sleeps under her Josefina story quilt. An author's note gives historical details and explains the importance of quilts as family diaries. Eleanor Coerr's beginning-to-read adventure (HarperCollins, 1986) captures the perils and heartaches of the westward journey. Christina Moore's narration does full credit to the emotional content of the story. Sound effects such as banjo music, spring rain, and coyotes howling add to the telling. Page-turn signals are optional. Reminiscent of the Little House on the Prairie books, youngsters will enjoy Josefina's story.-Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr. 2-4. Traveling to California by covered wagon with her family in 1850, a young girl makes a story quilt to show the highlights of her journey. She includes several patches in honor of her pet chicken, Josephina, who dies along the way.