A Language of Stitches: The Radical Quilts of Rosie Lee Tompkins

Critically acclaimed illustrator Constance Moore delivers a powerful and poetic picture book biography of groundbreaking quilter Rosie Lee Tompkins, celebrating the life and work of one of the greatest unsung artists in American history

Effie Mae Martin dreamed in bright, beautiful colors. With her needle and thread, she created designs that the world had never seen before: She mixed taffeta with T-shirts, wove patterns into words, and created shapes and stitches completely her own. But most importantly, Martin used her quilts to tell stories of Black life, of her memories with her family, and her love for her faith.

Through her work, she found freedom and courage, but she wasn’t ready to share herself with the public, so she created Rosie Lee Tompkins—an artist whose radical quilts took the world by storm.

In this stunning picture book biography, Constance Moore delivers an exquisite tribute to one of the greatest, yet often overlooked, artists in our history.

© 2026 Abrams Books for Young Readers (Ebook): 9798887073699

Release date

Ebook: 28 July 2026