Shall I Knit You a Hat? A Christmas Yarn
Maybe it’s the fact that the author, Kate Klise, and the illustrator, M. Sarah Klise, are sisters that makes the text and artwork fit together so well in the children's Christmas picture book Shall I Knit You A Hat? A Christmas Yarn. This tale of love, giving, and friendship centers on Mother Rabbit and Little Rabbit.While their cozy home is warm, a storm is coming, and Mother Rabbit asks, “Shall I knit you a hat?” Little Rabbit loves his new hat and convinces his mother to make hats, with his help, for his friends. Little Rabbit comes up with the design ideas and Mother Rabbit does the knitting. The two have a wonderful time working together. When Little Rabbit realizes he has been so busy that he has no present for his mother, she tells him, “…being with you is the best gift of all.”
Four things particularly impressed me about the book: the loving relationship between mother and son, their joy in preparing gifts for others, the delight of the recipients, and the clever acrylic illustrations. You’ll be astonished when you see how the animals look in their amazing hats, each one unique and perfect for the recipients: a horse, goose, deer, cat, and dog. (Henry Holt and Co., 2004. ISBN: 0800507318) Compare prices.
