The Mitten
Brett creates a dramatic picture book with the story of Nicki, a young boy who has lost a mitten in the snow and the animals who try to make a home of it. "The illustrations and the book design . . . are exquisite . . . a charming lap book to be poured over again and again."--School Library Journal. Full-color illustrations.Product Details
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
A Ukrainian boy named Nicki wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. She warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow, but of course he promptly does just that! What happens next is the surprising part, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, then a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox. If you think the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait: "Then a big bear sniffed at the mitten. The animals were packed in tight, but the bear didn't care. He crawled in anyway." When a tiny mouse squeezes in, her whiskers tickle the bear's nose. He sneezes, and "Aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!" all the animals fly out of their crocheted cave. As the mitten sails through the air, Nicki spots it, reclaims it, and takes it home to show his smiling Baba.
Jan Brett is the illustrator of many well-known folktales, fairy tales, and poems, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Owl and the Pussycat, by Edward Lear. Her special signature in her detailed artwork is the intricate borders, seen in this book as birch-bark panels with embroidered details and mitten-shaped vignettes offering additional insights into the story line. Brett is at her best when she illustrates animals, and the expressions on the faces of her creatures are a delight. She carefully researched the costumes, furniture, and house in this traditional Ukrainian tale--all are authentic. A fine story to read on a frosty night with a cup of hot chocolate, and if you ever get your fill of The Mitten, you can always try its delightfully original companion book, The Hat, winner of the 1998 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. (Ages 4 to 8)
From Publishers Weekly
Baba, Nicki's grandmother, knits pure white mittens for him, even though she is afraid that he will lose them in the snow. Sure enough, the first time Nicki is out, he drops one and some animals promptly move into its snug wool interior. First comes a mole, then a rabbit, a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, a fox, a bear and, finally, a mouse. That mouse tickles the bear's nose and he sneezes, dislodging all of the animals at once. Nicki finds his mitten, and takes it home, but Baba is left to wonder about how it became so enormously stretched out. Brett's magnificent paintings feature her usual array of folk details, and this time, intricate knitting tracks, ornate embroidery, the crusty, peeling texture of the birch bark borders and the exquisite patterns found in Baba's homey rooms. Readers will sit back, suspend belief and welcome this tall tale from the Ukrainian tradition. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Customer Reviews
Wonderful book to share
The lush illustrations in this book offer a wonderful chance for an adult to share time studying them with a youngster. Readers can feel the frosty air of the forest, smell the wood smoke in the fireplace, and hear the footfalls of wild creatures as they examine each page. So, bundle up, nestle down, and read this with someone young--even if it's just your inner child, you'll both be very satisfied by this lovely story and its mezmerizing pictures.
Packing was bad
Book is great but it came in a very thin envelope with no padding and the book itself was folded in half during delivery. It was in pretty bad shape actually....
Wonderful on many accounts
We borrowed this book from the library and I found myself reading it to my son one day when he was upset and needed distracting. He was quickly drawn into the story. I had him participating in the story telling, something he doesn't commonly do. I would ask him I wonder who is next and from the small picture in the border he could figure out what animal was coming next. After the story was over we got out the globe and found the Ukraine and talk a bit about how its different there.
The illlustrations provide details of Ukranian traditional culture.
You will want to be in those pictures (and I want the little boy's coat).
I can understand the disappointment from those that know the original folktale and don't appreciate that it has been changed, but the result is a very enjoyable book. I will be looking for others by this author.
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