Winter approaches. The sky is grey and the wind biting. I pulled thermals, warm socks, long pajamas, coats and hats out of the storage closet this weekend.
This weather makes me want to stay inside, to cuddle up in bed under my down comforter, but I am currently sitting in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea (almost as cozy as being in bed).
These cold winter days push us back inside, invite us to settle in with warm food and family. Life slows down in the winter, our rhythms change, the longer nights beckon us to rest, to strengthen our bodies and minds with calm activities and nourishment. Books are a perfect wintertime distraction. Comforting and warm on a cold Sunday afternoon.
When I put my son down for a nap this afternoon, I grabbed a large stack of books from one of the top shelves of our bookcase (where I keep the books we don’t read very often). I was pleased to find this book among the stack, and I enjoyed sharing it with my son on this wintry day. The version of this book that I have was published the year I was born (1974!) — but there is a new version that was published in 2000 (different illustrations, same story). I prefer the old version.
Lovable Annie loses yet another mitten (five this winter). She retraces her steps in order to find it, bringing the reader along to all the snowy places she played that morning. Searching snow castles, sledding hills and snowmen, Annie imagines what might have happened to her mitten: a hat for a baby hawk, a sleeping bag for mice. The story follows Annie throughout her search and into her imagination. While searching in Mrs. Seltzer’s garden (where she made snow angels), Annie wonders aloud to Oscar, her dog: “I wonder what would happen if I planted this other mitten.” She envisions a tree full of red mittens to pick and gift on Christmas morning.
Through dialog and illustration, Kellog captures the playful thoughts and imagination of childhood. He creates the wintry mood with his black and white drawings, adding a splash of joyful color (mittens and cardinal). Kellog’s drawings work together with his text to reveal the actual setting as well as the imaginings of little Annie.
A true classic, nostalgic and timely, this little book will have you longing for the lost mittens of youth.
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