A little boy who loves to play outside is fortunate to have a loving grandmother who knits him a hat, a scarf, and mittens every winter. The day he loses a mitten, she tells him not to worry, “We’ll find it tomorrow.” While the boy sips hot chocolate indoors, a squirrel spots the mitten. “ 'B-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-rrrrrrrrr!’ said the squirrel. 'My toes are cold as ice! This mitten looks so cozy, and warm toes would feel so nice!’ ” He climbs into the warm mitten and falls asleep. Next, a rabbit spies the mitten and would like a chance to warm his icy toes as well. The two are joined by a fox, and then a bear, but it’s a tiny mouse that pushes the mitten beyond its limits. Bits of yarn puzzle the boy and his grandmother when they find them the next day, but she sets out to knit another mitten, “because she loved him.” Satisfying repetition in the text and charming illustrations on clean white backgrounds combine to create a fresh rendition of a familiar tale. (Ages 2–5)

An original Jewish folktale about a girl who knits, a deaf woman, and a piece of blue yarn.

        When her family invites a deaf woman and her baby to stay, Ruthie, a talented knitter of mittens, wonders how the mother will know if her child wakes in the night. The surprising answer inspires Ruthie to knit a special gift that offers great comfort to mother and baby—and to Ruthie herself.
        With language and imagery reminiscent of stories told long ago, this modern Jewish folktale will resonate with those who love crafts, anyone who’s encountered someone with physical differences—and with everyone who has ever lost a mitten in the depths of winter.