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The Mitten (20th Anniversary Edition)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 0; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Elegant art makes this anniversary edition a real treasure.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    This book would be a good introduction to Ukrainian culture, especially their folk tales and folk art. 

  • Messages:

    No heavy message here but the suggestion is that one animal too many (a tiny mouse in this case) pushes the mitten beyond its limit. However, more obviously, the grandmother lovingly knits the mittens for her grandson and, though he is a bit careless about caring for them, all works out in the end.

  • Role models:

    Though usually out of fear of size, big claws or shiny teeth, the animals move over one by one to allow the next one in.  Also, out of love, the grandmother knits the mittens with white yarn as her grandson requests, and she looks out to see that he is safe and sound. 

  • Illustrations:

    Painted with nearly dry watercolors, animal characters are sensitively textured and almost looking like woodcuts, but softer, and more expressive. They are set against the billowing blue-toned snow, and  whole scenes are framed by birch bark panels highlighted here and there with  rich colors of embroidered flowers. Details denoting Ukrainian tradition, such as embroidered clothing, painted dishware, fireplace decoration, thatched cottage roof with a stork's nest near the chimney, pitchers on the posts outside, all give a beautifully honest tone to the tale.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Mitten (20th Anniversary Edition) was written by Patricia Tauzer

Parents need to know that this 20th anniversary edition is a beautiful book, and one to be treasured, both for the sweetness of the story and the detailed artwork that illustrates it. 

Families Can Talk About

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  • Why did Nicki want snow-white mittens? Why did Baba think it was a bad idea? Why do you think she knitted them for him anyway? Do you think it mattered to the animals? 

  • What do you notice about the clothes that Nicki is wearing? Can you describe his shirt? Do notice all of the embroidery? Where else do you see embroidered flowers? What kind of shoes does he have on? What about Baba? What do you notice about the decorations on the fireplace and on the dishes?
  • What kid of roof does Nicki's house have? Do you see anything unusual next to the chimney? What do you think that is doing there?
  • What is framing the illustration on each page?  You can see through a cut-out of a mitten on either side.  What do you see in the cut-out? Why do you think the illustrator made a frame like that? What does it add to the story?
  • Do you think it is possible for a mitten to stretch and stretch, large enough to hold all of those animals...or even one of them?
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More on The Mitten (20th Anniversary Edition)

Book Summary

Adapted from a Ukrainian folktale, this is the story of a lost mitten and the succession of animals that find shelter in its warmth. One by one, the animals move in. First mole, then rabbit, followed by hedgehog, owl, badger, fox, and even a bear. The mitten stretches and stretches to accomodate them all, until in the end a tiny mouse squeezes in, up near the bear's nose ... the bear sneezes ... and, well, that is the end of the cozy home in the snow. 
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Is It Any Good?

This kind of accumulating story is always entertaining, especially when such large animals squeeze into a very small space ... and somehow there is room for them! But the classic Jan Brett illustrations of this book make an entertaining story so much better. First published in 1989, this book was considered a treasure then; now, a generation later, it comes back to us in a slightly oversized volume, but with the same beautiful animal drawings and the addition of a personal note from the author. It is a treasure, and one of those books that should be shared with every child, especially if grandmother can do the reading!
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Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile, Publication date: 10/5/2009
Number of pages: 32, Price: $17.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 4, Read Alone: 6

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    whitaloo
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Music and Children's Literature: A great combo with this book!

    The Mitten by Jan Brett is a wonderful book for music education! You can explore your creative movement with all the different animals, you can use unpitched percussion to add sound effects to the animals as they enter the mitten, and of course, there are hundreds of songs to choose from about each animal! It is fun to create a short classroom play or expand it and make it a performance! You can even print masks of each character on janbrett.com. It is no wonder this book is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year...it's a classic!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Adult Reviewer
    lw1139
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    What a great story!

    I love this story. Our 2nd Grade music class is using this story as the base for their music sharing in a few weeks. It is very sweet and has a classic story line.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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