Noodle's Knitting

PreS-Gr 1—After months of watching the farmer's wife at work, Noodle the mouse decides to try her paw at knitting. Her buddy Hedgie, a hedgehog, donates two prickles for knitting needles. On the way home, Noodle becomes so engrossed in her new project that she has a couple of near-accidents, but a frog and a squirrel come to her rescue. Once Noodle gets back to her tree, she works through the night only to be "knitted in" by morning. The hedgehog, frog, and squirrel detangle her from her endless scarf and turn it into a cozy winter nest for four. Webster's prose makes for a fluid read-aloud, and Pedler's full- and double-page paintings are playful, warm, and cozy. The addition of the "soft-to-touch" tactile wool on every page is an unnecessary gimmick, but fortunately, it does not distract from the art. Most children will enjoy and identify with Noodle's delight at learning a new skill.—Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY