I've just come back from my home state of WI, where I got to spend time not only with my extended family, but also with six class families on a bit of a book tour and this picture conveys my feelings perfectly.
It was taken at Howard Elementary, as this fourth grader was finding out that he was getting a copy of one of my books; it's an extra-special magical moment that I hope I don't ever forget.
Another reason this visit was extra is that my Dad was able to attend. 💜
So today's PPBF was selected because I'm feeling SO extra.
Title: Extra Yarn
Author: Mac Barnett
Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Birth date: January 17, 2013
Suitable for: ages preK-3rd grade
Themes: creativity, generosity, growth mindset
Brief synopsis: Annabelle finds a box of yarn and, despite knitting for herself and others, finds there's always extra yarn. Is the yarn box magic? And what will happen when a greedy royal wants it for himself?
Opening page: On a cold afternoon, in a cold little town, where everywhere you looked was either the white of snow or the black of suet from chimneys, Annabelle found a box filled with yarn of every color.
Resources: Learn the book's backstory {here}.
Enjoy a read-aloud {here}.
Find some literacy activity suggestions {here}.
Share this story about the knit goods on a tree.
Why I like this book: I don't typically review books that are a dozen or more years old, but I found this one discounted at my local Barnes & Noble recently, so I gave it a second look. It seems so simple. But is it?
Annabelle finds a box of yarn that seems to have an endless supply;
Annabelle knits something for herself and her dog . . .
"But there was still extra yarn."
And so it goes. She continues to knit until basically everyone in town is touched by the warmth of Annabelle's creativity and generosity. Even the grumpy guy, who doesn't like sweaters, gets warmed up when Annabelle makes him mittens instead. It's just so incredibly endearing, at once fun and funny, with a strong growth-mindset theme woven throughout.
When she's offered several million dollars for her endless supply of colorful yarn in a box and she declines, her treasure is stolen. But will the yarn work for the thief like it worked for Annabelle?
Compare and contrast with other knit-for-service stories like my new book, Knit Back Together, and/or KiKi's Hats, Knitting Nell, The Mitten Tree, Yazzi's Amazing Yarn, A Hat For Mrs. Goldman.
Check out this timeless masterpiece
and savor the sweetness as the story unravels,
then ask your students what they would do with Extra Yarn.
Then head to Susanna Hill's blog for more PPBF picks.
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