a Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches Dream

A 2026 CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL HOT OFF THE PRESS SELECTION Stitch together a dream with astronaut Karen Nyberg as she shares her quilt with the world, the stars, and beyond. What would you do with an impossible dream? Dr. Karen Nyberg yearned to reach the stars, and when they were finally within grasp, she wanted to share the extraordinary sight with the world. Seeing that the Earth from a distance was like a quilted masterpiece of people and places, she put her skills with needle and thread to use—in space! When Nyberg lived on the International Space Station, she and NASA invited crafters from around the world to join a project to stitch together a global community quilt. Thousands of people from more than 30 countries stitched quilt squares that were combined to make 28 king-size quilts displayed at the 40th International Quilt Festival in Houston. With dreamy illustrations from Alida Massari that perfectly capture Nyberg’s starry quilt and fun facts about space on every page, A Quilt of Stars is an accurate retelling of Karen Nyberg’s true story. This book is an inspiration to those in love with STEM and art, teaching children that anyone with a goal, a community, and a dash of persistence can stitch together a dream.