A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love

Michelle Edwards is the author of numerous picture books, including Chicken Man, winner of the National Jewish Book Award; Max Makes a Cake, illustrated by Charles Santoso; and Room for the Baby, illustrated by Jana Christy. A lifelong knitter, Michelle has also written an adult title, A Knitter’s Home Companion. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa, where she and her husband share a house full of books and yarn. Learn more at michelledwards.com.

G. Brian Karas has illustrated many award-winning books for children, including How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara, Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins, Neville by Norton Juster, Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming, and Are You Going to Be Good? by Cari Best, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. He lives in New York’s Hudson Valley. Visit him at gbriankaras.com.
From the Hardcover edition.

PreS-Gr 2—Mrs. Goldman is a knitter, and she uses her talents to show love and affection for everyone in her neighborhood by making them all hats. Sophia receives her first hat from Mrs. Goldman when she is a tiny baby, and she grows up to spend time helping Mrs. Goldman add the finishing touches to her knitted hats by making pom-poms. During a cold prewinter walk, Sophia notices that Mrs. Goldman's head is bare because she spends all of her time knitting for others. Sophia makes it her mitzvah (good deed, as Mrs. Goldman taught her) to use her limited knitting skills to make Mrs. Goldman a hat. Sophia works hard but finds that her finished product has a few holes in it. Feeling discouraged for a moment, the child remembers Mrs. Goldman's praise of her pom-poms, and she adds red pom-poms to any areas that are bare; Mrs. Goldman is delighted. Mixed-media illustrations showcase the research the illustrator put into learning how to knit to faithfully execute the artwork. Soft lines and muted color choices give the illustrations a look that perfectly complements the art form. Back matter includes a pattern for making a knitted hat and instructions for making pom-poms. The hat pattern does require adult assistance and a basic working knowledge of knitting, though the pom-poms could easily be accomplished by a novice. VERDICT This heartwarming offering achieves its emotional impact through the loving actions of its main characters and makes for a great read-aloud whether shared one-on-one or with a group in storytime.—Samantha Lumetta, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH