favorite things

Posted on annePosted in book reviews/events, projects

i need time to get ready for taxes this weekend, so i thought i’d share a favorite book that came my way recently. the absolutely adorable

extra yarn by mac bennett, illustrated by jon klassen is a sweet and simple story about the rewarding magic of giving hand knits.

i just love the illustrations; they remind me of artwork by one of my own very favorite childhood favorites—ezra jack keats (the snowy day will forever be one of my most treasured reads).

can you see the similarity too?

i first saw a review copy of this book at the knitters review retreat and was immediately jealous that clara got to take it home.

but then someone told someone to send me one, too and now i can share it with you.

i love the charcoal-y muted tones of all the houses and trees, contrasted with the cheery bright colors of annabelle’s yarn

and how, as her knitting and generosity with it grows, so the world around her is transformed from shadow to light.

it’s just delightful—a perfect gift for a child you might know, or heck, just for yourself. i was very torn about whether to keep mine or pass it on to one of my nephews and finally decided to send it to micah, since his mom, nan, is a wonderful knitter.

he may as well learn about yarn early!

and just after i wrapped it up to send out, another review copy landed on my doorstep. haha, i was very thankful; i really wanted to add a copy to my shelf of children’s books.

i think the last page of the book says it best

i highly recommend extra yarn; it’s the perfect way to share the yarn love with a special little someone (or two, haha). thank you very much to harper collins books for both publishing it and for including me in their review list.

and for all of you, a special treat, just in time for valentime’s day: harper collins will send one lucky commentor a copy of extra yarn to share with their family. please leave a comment at the end of this post sometime before 9pm EST on tuesday feb 7 to be included in the drawing. we’ll announce the winner on wednesday in thursday’s post!

225 thoughts on “favorite things”

  1. Sounds like a great book for my 2 favorite little people, and Valentines Day just around the corner! Yea!!

  2. What a great book recommendation! I placed a hold on it at the library. I think it may be a great gift for a few mom friends who recently took up knitting. Thx!

  3. I just saw this on Amazon yesterday and was so touched by the story and illustrations that I ordered it for my favorite knitting friends for Valentine’s Day.

  4. My daughter is a 4th grade teacher and lets me come and read a book to her class …i always bring my knitting, knit while i read, and have at least 10 kids knitting by the end of the visit….i think i’ll look for this book for this years visit! thanks anne!

  6. Oh I love The Snowy Day! I haven’t thought about it in years and it truly is a favorite – thanks for sharing it and your review. I stopped by to say Happy Birthday to you (now just into the second day late) – you and my own sister (also named Anne) have the same birthday. Thanks for all you’ve shared with us and made our days a bit better. I love turning to your blog and soaking up the relaxing joy of yarn and knitting and whatever else you’ve got cooking. Happy Birthday Anne!

  11. I saw a copy in my LYS and read it out loud to my friend while she was knitting. Charming!

    And I have a yarn box like that too, which probably has something to do with all the time I spend in my LYS surrounded by gorgeous yarn… oh, I have got to have that beautiful tonal green…

  12. I love this book! The color and illustrations in this book is perfect. I just love the stitches on the sweaters. And I know my 4 yr old would love to win a copy. Thank you for having this giveaway.

  13. Oh what a wonderful book! The story reminds me a little of my favorite children’s book, Miss Rumphius. I’ll be adding this to my list of books to buy!

  14. I’ll also have to find a copy for the school library… I also adore the colours and contrasts…

    Enjoy the taxes! 🙂

  15. Anne,

    I hope you are feeling better. Don’t have a relapse doing your taxes!

    What a wonderful book. Thanks for this giveaway.

  16. That’s a lovely book–the illustrations are great, and I’m definitely partial to the subject matter! Thanks for sharing, Anne.

  17. Such a sweet book! We are saving up children’s books for my little bun in the oven, Arthur. Will have to remember to add this one to the collection.

  18. I have a 6yr old grandaughter that would love this book! She likes “Nana’s” extra yarn for herself.

  19. This book looks so adorable! My daughter is teaching her kindergarten class to knit. Wouldn’t this be fun to read during story time?

  20. I too love Ezra Jack Keats, especially for his “Whistle for Willie”.

    If I win the copy of “Extra Yarn” I’ll donate it to my local library – after I read it first, of course!

  21. I knit my son a pointy red toque, just to go with A Snowy Day. We love that book. And I think we would love this too, since my son is quite aware of all the extra yarn in our house!

  26. What a beautiful book. I love collecting children’s books about knitting. One of my favorites is ‘Shall I Knit You A Hat’.

  27. That book was part of the Yankee Swap this weekend at the knitting retreat my friends and I do every year! Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t the one who got it.

  29. What a treat. This is a fantastic giveaway and a great gift for any among the number of little nieces and nephews for whom I make terribly itchy sweaters!

  30. I’d love a copy for my niece who is a fantastic knitter and whose birthday is later this month!

  31. Such a sweet and endearing book! It’s never too early to start the young ones on the possibilities of gifting with yarn!

  35. Thank you for sharing! I haven’t seen it before, looks like a wonderful addition to our bedtime story routine 😉

  37. I was cleaning under the beds in my children’s room when I found our much-loved copy of The Snowy Day. I had to read it sitting right there on the bedroom floor. Then I was off to find and read Peter’s Chair. After the cleaning was done, I rewarded myself with a peek at KnitSpot and, whoa!, it was such fun to see your review of Extra Yarn. Now for some knitting time.

  39. me me me-hand waving wildly in the air! Starting to teach my 6 yer old granddaughter to knit and I’m sure she would love this book.

  40. What a beautiful book and lovely message – this would be good for my neighbor’s son and many others I know. I love the art work in this.

  43. I am so excited to read this book! It looks delightful! Yesterday I had my 40th Birthday and I resolved to learn how to knit as a present to myself. I got some wonderful knitting presents from friends and am invited to a ladies knitting night this coming Monday eveing! This would be a treat to receive and share!
    Thank you!

  44. my 8 yr old would love this story as she thinks her mom has too much yarn… ( as if anyone could have too much yarn!)…please put me in the running for this book and thanks!

  45. I have this on my wish list. I’m teaching my granddaughter to knit and it would be a great book for her.

  47. This sounds like an adorable book that I would enjoy reading to my grandchildren. I recently taught their mother how to knit so that should add extra meaning to the story for them.
    Gita
    quiltnb@hotmail.com

  49. What a sweet story. I miss picture books (we packed them all up, but are saving them …) but – I have little ones on both sides of us now … and I have knit for them …

  53. As a teacher who has run several knitting clubs at school, it would be a lovely book to use as an introduction, or enticement for other students to join.

    Love the transformation made with the colored yarn!

  56. Reminds me of when my daughter was small
    I belive my husband to this day could still tell you word for word
    Socks for Supper.
    Which also had some good lessons for life.

  57. My first grandbaby is on the way and I’m working on lots of hand knits. This would be great to start the baby’s library.

  59. What a great book and review. I’m going to see if I can find the other book you mentioned too.

  61. What a lovely book! I collect books, pretending I am buying them for my kids;) This would be a fabulous book “just for me” ! I think I’ve fallen in love with it already:-)

  62. I heard this book reviewed somewhere, stuck the info in my head and immediately forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder, Anne!

  67. I would love to have a copy…goes with Socks for Supper that my grand-daughters and I read together. thank you for offering a copy up…

  71. This so affirms what a loving thing it is to knit for someone. And Snowy Day is very much the same feeling – I love that one too

  75. Thank you for sharing the book. There are so many wonderful books for children, but one can never have enough. I teach K/grade 1 and have a 3 year old, so I know that you can never have enough. I love the ‘knit’ of the colours as the book continues, how neat.

  77. It’s a brilliant book. I put it on my Amazon list for 2012 Christmas and Birthday Gift Ideas!

  79. What a simply gorgeous book. I’d love a copy to read to to the future grandkids and my nephew. He loves to raid the kids books shelf when he comes to visit.

  81. This is so cute–I would love to win it so I can read it to my grandson Noah, who wants to learn to knit when he gets older. 🙂

  90. Oh what a sweet book- my two year old (who dresses his Thomas trains in my extra bits of sock yarn) would probably enjoy reading it with me. 🙂

  92. What a beautiful book! I collect kids books too, this one will have to go on the shelf with the rest of them!

  95. I love kids’ books that have a fibercraft/art-making theme. I’ve seen several beautiful quilt ones, but not so many knitting ones. I also like the message of this one, though most crafty kids’ books do seem to be about sharing/giving, since crafts are so useful that way!

  99. By far one of mine and my children’s all time favorite authors—-Ezra Jack Keats! My grandsons have inherited all we collected with the time worn pages And yes, there is a strong similarity in illustrations!

  101. Yes, definitely reminds one of Ezra Jack Keats; charming. I’d love to be in the drawing for the book; I know just the little girl to share it with. I’m always a sucker for kids’ books that include textile arts.

  102. What a beautiful book! I would love to send it out with a homemade gift to a friend’s little one.

  105. I would love to give this book to a set of twins (3 years old) who are great friends of mine (after I read the book of course…)

  107. A lovely tale, and about knitting! I hope I’m the lucky winner but whoever wins this book will be very fortunate. Good Luck to all.

  109. I have a great-niece that I have gifted “yarny” books to since she was born, in hopes that she will develop a love for it. I would love a copy for her. Thanks.

  113. What a beautiful book. I’m expecting my first child and would love to be able to share this with her. She is already going to be covered in hand knitted goodness.

  116. The illustrations remind me of “Whistle for Willie” – hope this is destined to become a classic of the same order – I’d love to get my hands on “Extra Yarn”…..and extra yarn, of course 🙂

  118. I believe in the power of sharing and my handknits are the gifts I share only with those who mean the most to me. I can’t wait to read the adorable book. Thanks for sharing.

  119. Times being a bit tough this year, I’ve found out just how many things you can make with “extra” yarn (as if we every consider any yarn extra? Gimmie more of that !!!) I managed to make fibery gifts for every person on our list this year, which is quite considerable, and I still have “extra” yarn to make things for my husband and myself. Now I’m starting on birthday gifts for the year. If I won the book, I have a myriad of children I could read it to when they come over. Would love to share it with them!

  120. I would love to win a copy of this book – especially since we added a new knitter-to-be to our family this fall 🙂 I can’t wait to teach Eleanor to knit…but for now I’ll have to be satisfied with wrapping her in knit goodies!

  121. I just became a grandmother this year and would love to have this book to share with Braelyn and her mom Chelsea – a wonderful knitter, too!

  122. What a wonderful book. It’s sure to become a classic. I would love to add it to the library of books I will read to my grandbaby who will be born in July.

  123. This book looks amazing. I love the illustrations and see the similiarities to Ezra Jack Keats books, A Snowy Day is one of my favorites. I would love this book for my great niece, it would carry on a tradition I started with her mother of giving her books that she will love. Hopefully it will instill in her a love of reading and maybe will inspire her to be a knitter as well.

  124. I am always looking for yarny books to share with the kids in my family. This looks like a wonderful read that I will definately have to add to my wish list. thanks.

  127. Extra Yarn looks like a wonderful book! Would love to be lucky enough to win and share it with the wee ones in our family. Thanks Anne for putting it up for someone to win.

  129. I LOVE this book, it will be perfect for my 2 year old granddaughter who already loves playing with yarn. I hope I win but if I don’t I’ll buy a copy! Thanks for sharing it.

  131. What a lovely book! I love children’s books, a habit that comes in handy when I get to play loving auntie and mind the munchkin(s). We always have reading time – what better reading than about yarn?

  136. This is a delightful book. I had a chance to see it last week, when a knitting friend brought in a copy to my local yarn shop (her husband is in the book business). Would love a copy to send to my grandkids, who get sweaters every year for Christmas.

  138. the book looks lovely. i would love to have a copy to keep at my house for a special read when my grandchildren visit. they are still too young to teach them to knit but they are fascinated when i knit.

  139. Love Love Love this book . . . even if I get picked, I will need a few extra copies to gift away . . . ox

  142. I will have to add this to my collection of wonderful stories to share with my grandbabies (Snowy Day) is already on the shelf 🙂

  145. What a wonderful book to read to a little granddaughter who loves color and ‘knitting’ with Granma’s yarn!

  148. It looks adorable. I would love to add this whimsical, non-patterns book to my collection

  152. I too know a little boy who would love this book…and his Mommy is a wonderful knitter. Thanks for sharing it!

  154. If I won this book, I would savor it, then send it to my niece in Texas. I knit her a Sheldon Turtle once and she absolutely loves it.

  159. I know it’s selfish, but if I win the book will be for me. Of course, I might read it to the grandboys, but I love children books!

  163. this is an absolutely adorable book. When I taught high school, I occasionally used children’s books to give my students an overview of a story or the history behind a story. They loved it! We never outgrow the love of engaging illustrations and fun stories! Count me in!

  164. What a sweet book. I would love to share it with my niece who will be our next generation knitter – or at least I hope so!!

  165. I remember reading The Snowy Day for a kid lit class in college, and recently purchased it for my grandson. My granddaughter is learning to knit, and I think she would love Extra Yarn!

  168. I am always looking for books and other things that will help the wonderful little people in my life to understand how important, fun, and beautiful handmade items are. Thank you for the suggestion.

  173. I would adore having this book to share with my youngest grandbaby, who has been knitting with me for two years…Well, what she really does is put her hands on mine as I knit, all the while hollering out loud to everyone in the house “Look, I’m teaching Grammy how to knit”.

    Thanks for the chance to enter such a great giveaway!!

    Grammy
    (aka Stoney Monte)

  174. What a lovely book; thanks for sharing it, even if I don’t get lucky! I do a a wonderful 5 and a half year old granddaughter who would love it, though!

  177. I saw this book over the weekend. It is so sweet. I would love to add it to my library.

    Lynn

  182. How totally delightful!!! I am a teacher who knits. I would love to share this with my students. Barnes and Noble, here I come!!!!!

  184. I can see the resemblance to the snowy day. Adore that; would love this. Thanks for the introduction :-)>

  186. loved Snowy Day. used to read it to my children all the time. This looks like an adorable book. Thanks for reviewing it.

  188. I have a weakness for children’s books, particularly books related to knitting. It looks like a charming book.

  191. What an opportunity! I would love to win this book I need to add it to my Amazon wish list. I wonder if it comes as an e-book?
    Thanks Anne,
    Betsy.

  192. I absolutely agree with your observation that Extra Yarn resembles the work of Ezra Jack Keats — my girls are now 11, 9 and 6 1/2, reading well on their own, and Snowy Day is still one of our favorites to read together. I know they’d love this one, too.

  195. Yes, I see the Ezra Jack Keats connection! This is a must-have. I teach second grade and I’d love to share this with ‘my’ kids. They’re not quite sure about this knitting thing – “Miss, you knit? You mean like my grandma?” Thank you for sharing this lovely book with the blog!

  200. This book looks lovely. A must have for my grandsons who consistently ask me to knit them mittens, socks, sweaters and hats. Also the perfect gift for my knitter friend who just had her first grandchild!

  201. This book looks darling! Perfect for my almost five year old daughter who is very patient with my stash & knitting obsession. For those of you who haven’t seen the book “Woolbur”, it is also a darling book about yarn/knitting – a story about a young sheep. ( : Thanks for the chance to win. Stephanie

  202. This is the perfect book for me to read to my almost two year old granddaughter who snuggles up next to me when I knit. Thanks for the chance to win it!

  203. Do I really have to share it with a younger person??? :^) I am so glad that you shared those images today! It sort of gave me the giggles. (who me…too much yarn??) It might help some of us confess to a “little” problem” with yarn purchasing. And – smile – and name someone in our will to gift it too in the event of our untimely passing. (Like departing earth before we use up our stash) In all un-seriousness – and hoping for the book…..

  204. What a charming book. This will definitely find its way into my library.
    I’m teaching my neighbor’s daughter how to knit and it would be so fun to read to her while she practices her knitting!

  206. Oh, Ann! Thank you for showing off this lovely book. Over the past few winters, I have sent my nieces (now grown ladies) who live “up north” a little something “just-because-I-love-you” hand knit and it gives me such joy that I have expanded it to dear friends who live north, too. This book seems to demonstrate how much fun it is to give away something we knit especially when there’s a little love tucked into each stitch!

  208. Nice book! I think my little grandson Luke would like it! He has a speech difficulty and he sure know how to knit when I send him something for hats/sweaters!

  210. A perfect birthday gift for my little nephew. His first gift was a knitted ball and his first word was “ball”.

  212. I love David’s shawl, what beautiful work and I bet he has such a sense of accomplishment! The book is lovely, my grandkids love sitting with me while I knit, I think it would be cool to sit with them and read a book about knitting.

  213. HOORAY for David for finish the wrap and BLOCKING it too! Happy Birthday to YOU! It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend and a wonderful day.
    This book has been popping up here and there recently! I would LOVE it!

  215. I almost missed it! I was going to send this link to my hubby but I’ll enter first for a chance to win! Congrats to the lucky winner.

  219. I would love to add this sweet book to my collection. Thanks for running this drawing, and thanks also for your faith with this blog. I visit nearly every day!

  221. I am currently teaching two girls, ages 7 and 9, and their Mom, to knit. I would LOVE to give a copy of this book to them to celebrate their hard work!

  223. How sweet! I just read The Snowy Day to my students and I agree the illustrations are very much like Extra Yarn. I would love to share this book with them too. Thanks for sharing it with us.

  225. Super cute idea for a book! I love how it looks like the color increases as the book continues.

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