Book Review: Extra Yarn

Please note: I was contacted by the publisher to review this book and was sent a complementary copy.  This review is my opinion, and is just that - an opinion.  Your mileage may vary.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett is a charming children's story about a girl named Annabelle who, one cold, snowy, dreary day, finds "a box filled with yarn of every color".  This book tells her story:  How she uses the yarn to knit sweaters and hats and covers the town's residents, as well as buildings, postboxes, vehicles, and the local pets with brightly colored knitwear.

The box, miraculously, is never empty of yarn and Annabelle continues to knit and knit and knit, until one day, an archduke "who was very fond of clothes" (and drawn just as snootily as you can imagine with a plumed hat and striped pantaloons) sails into town and demands to see Annabelle. He offers her countless riches to give up her box of yarn.  Annabelle refuses him.

The archduke, who of course is an Evil archduke (aren't they all?), has the box of yarn stolen from Annabelle's house at night, and he spirits it away, back across the sea.

I won't ruin the ending for you, but to tell you that the archduke finds out that evil is never rewarded.  And Annabelle, who is generous and giving, finds out that those gifts come back to you.

This is is lovely little book about doing good in your corner of the world.  The otherwise simple drawings are given a new liveliness with the addition of the brightly colored yarn coverings.  (The illustrator, Jon Klassen, MUST have cats - the poses and facial expressions on the sweater-wearing cats throughout the book are spot on).  This is a sweet little tale - I can imagine myself as a kid asking to have this one read to me over and over again.  Your little one, and anyone who knits, will likely enjoy this book as well.

All for now......

Comments

[margene]

I have a copy, too. It's such a sweet book and quite fun to read!

[Christina]

Oh sounds interesting. I wonder if baby Scovel-Browne might need a copy :)

[Manise]

Oooh, I know a family who would enjoy this very much.