Story Rug by Blackall, Sophie

From two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall and beloved artist Phoebe Wahl comes a luminous book that braids together the joy of storytelling with the satisfaction of learning a new craft.​

The children of Class 203 are learning to braid. They started with hair and shoelaces, and now the children have brought rags from home. Their braid gets longer and longer until one idea transforms it into an extraordinary surprise for their teacher.

Here is the story of a rag rug, woven through with the stories of the scraps used to create it and those told during its making. The result is a special handmade spot where the whole class can gather, ready for more stories.

This beguiling celebration of storytelling is woven through with an easy-to-learn and impressive craft project, including instructions, will have readers reaching for scraps to make their own rag rug.

Author: Sophie Blackall
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 07/14/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 11.20h x 9.70w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9780316535380
Audience: Ages 4-8

Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 02/01/2026 pg. 38
Publishers Weekly 03/30/2026
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2026
Booklist 06/01/2026
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2026 pg. 66

About the Author
Sophie Blackall has illustrated dozens of beautiful books, including the New York Times bestseller Farmhouse and the Caldecott Medal-winning titles Finding Winnie (by Lindsay Mattick) and Hello Lighthouse. She is also the founder of Milkwood, a creative retreat in the Catskills, where there are many vintage rag rugs, all made of scraps of clothing once worn by real people with stories of their own. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York, and invites you to visit her on Instagram @sophieblackall.

Phoebe Wahl is an award-winning illustrator and surface designer. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and has published celebrated picture books, including Little Witch Hazel and Sonya's Chickens. She lives with her family in Bellingham, Washington, where her children play on a rag rug braided by their great-grandmother. She invites you to visit her on Instagram @phoebewahl.