The Mitten
Author: Jim Aylesworth
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Folktale
Horn Book or Kirkus Reviews rating: 1
Summary: A boy's grandmother knits him a scarf, hat, and pair of mittens. When the little boy goes outside to play in the snow he loses one of his mittens. A variety of animals find it and climb in to keep warm. When too many animals climb inside the mitten explodes and the boy finds it the next day.
Summary of Professional Reviews: Hornbook gave this book a rating of 1. They say that this retold story offers more colorful illustrations that will invite the readers to follow along with the story. "Aylesworth's polished text shows its storytelling roots with perfect pacing, precisely chosen details, and participatory repetition."
Review by Kitty Anthony: In this slightly different version of the classic Ukrainian folktale all the main events stay the same. The author uses subtle rhyming and repetition throughout the book that makes it predictable and easy to follow along with. The illustrations are colorful and enhance the experience for readers because they accurately and colorfully portray the story of this mitten and the animals that all want to stay warm.
This book would be useful when teaching…
Teachers can read this story to students at the beginning or during the winter when it starts to snow. The teacher can have a discussion with the students about what happens in the winter (animals hibernate, trees lose their leaves, etc.). The teacher can also talk to the students about what they should be wearing when they go outside in the cold. The students could do an activity where they have a boy and a variety of clothing items from various seasons. They would then have to put the correct clothes on the boy if he were going out in the snow.
Illustrator: Barbara McClintock
Publisher: Scholastic
Year of Publication: 2009
Genre: Folktale
Horn Book or Kirkus Reviews rating: 1
Summary: A boy's grandmother knits him a scarf, hat, and pair of mittens. When the little boy goes outside to play in the snow he loses one of his mittens. A variety of animals find it and climb in to keep warm. When too many animals climb inside the mitten explodes and the boy finds it the next day.
Summary of Professional Reviews: Hornbook gave this book a rating of 1. They say that this retold story offers more colorful illustrations that will invite the readers to follow along with the story. "Aylesworth's polished text shows its storytelling roots with perfect pacing, precisely chosen details, and participatory repetition."
Review by Kitty Anthony: In this slightly different version of the classic Ukrainian folktale all the main events stay the same. The author uses subtle rhyming and repetition throughout the book that makes it predictable and easy to follow along with. The illustrations are colorful and enhance the experience for readers because they accurately and colorfully portray the story of this mitten and the animals that all want to stay warm.
This book would be useful when teaching…
Teachers can read this story to students at the beginning or during the winter when it starts to snow. The teacher can have a discussion with the students about what happens in the winter (animals hibernate, trees lose their leaves, etc.). The teacher can also talk to the students about what they should be wearing when they go outside in the cold. The students could do an activity where they have a boy and a variety of clothing items from various seasons. They would then have to put the correct clothes on the boy if he were going out in the snow.