A BOOK FOR BLACK-EYED SUSAN

This is a touching story about a 10-year old girl named Cora and her family leaving from Missouri to head west on the Oregon Trail. Cora's mom dies in childbirth on the wagon trip, and the baby sister is given to aunt Alma to take care of. Cora name her baby sister Susan because of her black eyes and blonde hair that reminds Cora of a yellow daisy like wildflower and were also her mother’s favorite flowers.

During the long wagon trip, on a stormy night going thru her mother’s sewing box, Cora finds pieces of fabric in different colors and she starts sewing quilt squares creating images of her home back in Missouri. Eventually the wagon trains split up with some families heading towards California and some heading towards Oregon. Cora, knowing that she will never see her sister again, rushes to the wagon to finish the little gift she has for the baby. It would be her baby sister first book. Cora and her father move into Oregon Territory where in time Cora becomes a teacher. Cora is offered a position in a new school. Since the school could not provide books to the children, they’re asked to bring their own. As Cora register her new students’ names, eventually she comes to a dark-eyed blonde girl holding a fabric book who tells her, "My name is Susan and I have a book."
Beautifully written by Judy Young, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Ages 6-7.