A Friendship Yarn

by Lisa Moser, Olga Demidova (Illustrator)

Overview

When porcupine and badger start knitting, their friendship gets all tangled up.

Porcupine and Badger have always been the best of friends, so when Porcupine finds some yarn in the woods, she makes a present for Badger. And when Badger finds yarn, she makes a present for Porcupine. The only problem? It's the same yarn—and to finish the gift, they each must unravel the other's creation. An act of kindness turns into a fierce standoff as the friendship frays—can Porcupine and Badger set aside their differences and knit themselves back together?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807507612
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/01/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lisa Moser has written eleven books for children. She graduated from the University of Iowa with an elementary education degree and a concentration in reading. She taught fifth grade in Worthington, Ohio, and was never beaten in a footrace by her students. Lisa lives in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
Olga Demidova studied traditional applied arts and animation in Moscow and spent years working in animation before illustrating children’s books. She always tries to stay positive and see happy little things in everyday life that will encourage those who see her drawings.

Editorial Reviews

"Sweet... Demidova's colorful illustrations depict a lovely forest setting and a swirling strand of red yarn."—Kirkus Reviews


"This is a cozy tale about sharing, caring, friendship, and truly unique stitchery."—Foreword Reviews


"Best for one-on-one sharing."—Booklist

From the Publisher

01/24/2020

PreS-Gr 1—Porcupine and Badger are great friends and enjoy helping one another in their daily lives. One brisk fall day, a ball of yarn falls off a peddler's cart and unravels across a great expanse of the forest. Badger comes across one end and decides to knit a backpack for picnics with Porcupine, while Porcupine finds the other end and determines to make a tablecloth for her tea time with Badger. As each one nears the end of their creation, the whole thing unravels and the two soon discover that their friend has the other half of "their" yarn. A knitting tug of war ensues and all thoughts of sharing are quickly discarded. When neither friend is able to complete their project, Porcupine cuts the yarn in half and each declares they no longer want to be friends. That night a snowstorm blankets the woods and the two friends revert to their former generous selves as each one quickly knits a sweater for the other. VERDICT An optional purchase showcasing the misunderstandings that friends can have and the ways to end a fight with kindness and forgiveness.—Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

School Library Journal

2019-06-16
One ball of yarn plus two BFFs who both knit can lead to good intentions and a frayed friendship.

Badger and Porcupine share their days and their meals. One day, a peddler passing by drops a ball of red yarn, which unrolls entirely till it is one long string stretched out and wound around the woods. Porcupine and Badger each pick up one end. Each is industrious, and with knitting needles in hand they proceed to fashion gifts, each for the other, to the tune of "Floop. Floop. Floop-floop-floop." When their projects unravel and they realize that they are sharing one ball, however, the two fall into a snit and proceed to fashion increasingly grand objects for themselves. A hammock, a tent, and a sail for a boat are all knit and purled into creation. But then night falls, the temperature drops, and the two meet on an icy field to exchange sweaters that they have made for each other. All is well in their world now. Moser's tale of a friendship that cannot be torn apart by selfishness is sweet but not unfamiliar. Demidova's colorful illustrations depict a lovely forest setting and a swirling strand of red yarn. Children may ponder the dilemma of a porcupine wearing a knit garment, though.

A single ball of yarn threatens and then strengthens an animal friendship in this slight tale. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews