The Mitten

by Jim Aylesworth and Barbara McClintock

A little boy who loves to play outside is fortunate to have a loving grandmother... read more

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)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2010

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