Book of the Week: The Mitten

So, I'm not complaining. But the weather here has been driving me crazy! A few weeks ago I got an email from Freida's school asking the parents to please send in winter coats, scarves, gloves, and hats! Meanwhile, last Sunday we were swimming all afternoon in our friends pool (thanks Lay!). The weather weirdness has me constantly checking to make sure I bring all of the above with me before leaving the house (with the kids in short-sleeve tees and flouncy little skirts!), and has left our skin (and electric bill!) in limbo as we go from heat to air nonstop. Anyways! As I said, I'm not complaining :)

Rummaging through previous year's winter stowaways has been fun and nostalgic (remembering our freezing cold trip to Chicago!), and Freida was so excited to pull out her little mittens! Mostly because of her infatuation with the book The Mitten. And I have to admit, the story is wonderfully enchanting and endearing...

The Mitten is a Ukranian folktale about a boy who drops his mitten in the snow and one by one animals snuggle inside the mitten for warmth, and Jan Brett draws upon the young readers to be imaginative and inquisitive with her animal descriptions and specifications. Freida loves asking "I wonder why they made room for the owl? Ohh because of his sharp nails!" etc. I love reading books that involve the readers, and Freida loves when I initiate a conversation based on the story - this book is the perfect aid to that.

Plus, famous books like this one always seem to have heaps of learning activities connected to them. Check out these ideas for doing a proper unit on winter and "the mitten".