7 Books for Sweater Weather

The Mitten, by Alvin Tresselt and Yaroslava
An “old Ukrainian folktale” still printed in the same aqua, orange, white, and yellow color scheme since 1964, this is the version of The Mitten that I remember being read as a child. Animals of increasing size, all dressed in traditional Ukrainian garb, discover a lost mitten in the woods and one by one burrow inside together for warmth. The smaller animals express trepidation as the larger, more predatory animals breach the cuff, but everyone manages to fit quite well until the tiniest of mice arrives.

The Mitten, by Jan Brett
Since mittens come in pairs, I feel it’s worthwhile to mention another, possibly more well-known version of this classic folktale. This adaptation of The Mitten was first published in 1989 and has sold over 2.5 million copies. The illustrations in this book are full-color and feature very expressive animals. In Brett’s version, the young boy is reunited with his lost mitten in a sweet coincidence. Listen to the author reading over an animated version of her book here.

Woolbur, by Leslie Helakoski and Lee Harper
Woolbur stresses his parents out: Everything he does, he does differently from the rest of the flock. Wise Grandpaa (not a typo) tells Maa and Paa not to worry, although they find this impossible. Woolbur is not bashful about his behavior: To every concern raised by his parents, he responds “Isn’t it great?” Sounds a lot like my own little lamb. Woolbur cards his own wool, dyes it blue, and even knits with glee, and soon all the other lambs follow his lead.

Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters, by K.G. Campbell
Lester’s neat, orderly life is suddenly completely upended by the arrival of his—or someone’s—Cousin Clara and her curiously fast knitting. Lester fails to appreciate the bevy of sweaters appearing nightly and growing larger every day, and finds himself stuck in some uncomfortable positions (not to mention garments). Fortunately, he meets up with the right people just in time and everyone ends up happily clothed.

Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr
You can very nearly feel the chill of the cold winter night as you read this book. Follow this tender tale as a girl and her father go owling together: silently trudging through the snow, listening, being brave, and hoping. The Caldecott-winning illustrations in this book alone will no doubt inspire others to seek owls. I was so intrigued by the idea of trying this myself someday, I looked it up. No, I did not mean “how to go bowling,” thank you very much.

Extra Yarn, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
In a cold, monochromatic town where no one knows any different, a little girl finds a box of brightly colored, endless yarn and begins to knit sweaters, scarves, and hats for everyone and everything. A nasty archduke from across the lake attempts to steal the yarn and curse the girl, but his plan just won’t work. From the excellent team of Barnett and Klassen, this book has excellent pacing and, like the ideally-sized sweater, allows room to breathe.

Frozen: A Pop-Up Adventure, by Matthew Reinhart
My four-year-old is jumping up and down behind me as I write this. I would be terribly remiss, says she, if I didn’t include Elsa and Anna in this list of books about being cold. Actually, she’d prefer that the whole list were filled with books about Frozen. I told her that when she starts writing round-ups, she’s welcome to suggest that idea. Better learn to read first. Here’s a truly stunning pop-up book for that Frozen fan in your life who just can’t get enough.