Milly, Molly and the Secret Scarves

Text: Gill Pittar

Illustrations: Cris Morrell

Year: 2002

Publisher: Milly Molly Books, New Zealand

Age: 5 - 8 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Early readers

ISBN:  978 1 87729 717 8

Milly and Molly are inseparable friends who constantly learn new things about people, places and important values.

In this heart-warming  book, Milly and Molly decide to surprise each other with a colorful scarf for Christmas. They knit and knot fervently until the scarves are done. On Christmas day, the girls are thrilled to discover how alike they are and how much they are loved.   

This book is more than just about sharing and giving gifts, it's about love and true friendship, the kind that overlooks differences, the kind that truly lasts.

Excerpt

She was still knitting on Christmas morning.

“You must love Molly very much,” her mother said.

“I do,” said Milly.

Noodle’s Knitting

Text: Sheryl Webster

Illustrations: Caroline Pedler

Year: 2010

Publisher: Little Tiger Press, London

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 24

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84895 093 1

This heartwarming story of friendship, love and sacrifice makes for a great reading experience.

Noodle, an industrious little mouse, longs to knit. She manages to lay her hands on a lovely ball of wool.

She knits, all day long and soon she has a scarf ready for herself and her friends to tuck into during the long, cold winter.

The illustrations are exceptionally adorable. Our baby loved this book because of the soft-to-touch velvety texture on every page.

Excerpt

Pitter patter went her paws, clickety click went her needles. On and on she danced, singing merrily,

“One plain, one purl, one twisk, one twirl!”

She was enjoying herself so much she didn't even notice her knitting catch on a prickle …

Just Right for Christmas

Text: Birdie Black

Illustrations: Rosalind Beardshow

Year: 2011

Publisher: Nosy Crow, London  

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 30

Book Type: Picture book, Paperback

ISBN: 978 0 85763 136 7

This is a cheery Christmas story of love and sacrifice. Christmas is also one of those times when miracles of kindness and friendship are born. And this book is about just that – an act of love sets off a chain reaction of selflessness and sharing.

On Christmas Eve, the king spots a roll of beautiful red cloth to make a cloak for his daughter. The maids leave the scraps outside which Jenny, the kitchen maid sews into a smart jacket for her mother. 

Bertie Badger finds her scraps and makes a hat for his father and leaves the cloth scraps outside his house. Samuel Squirrel finds them and makes a pair of gloves for his wife. His scraps are picked up by Milly Mouse who turns it into a scarf for her son Billy.

Everyone’s present feels just right…

We loved this book for its simple message of giving and sharing at Christmas time.

Excerpt

She snipped and she sewed and she snipped and she sewed and, by the time the candle had burnt down low, she’d made a cosy scarf for Billy. 

The Bravest Cat! (The true story of Scarlett) (Puffin Young Readers – Level 2)

Text: Laura Driscoll

Illustrations: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, Wikipedia

Year: 1997

Publisher: PuffinYoung Readers, New York

Age: 4 - 6 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Educational 

ISBN:  978 0 44849 482 1

Another “cat” book but with longer sentences than “That, Bad, Bad Cat”.

This is also a true story based on a cat named Scarlett who stole hearts worldwide for her bravery when she went back and forth from a blazing fire in a garage to rescue her kittens, all five of them!

Excerpt

And the poor mother cat!

Her burns are bad.

Her eyes are hurt.

She cannot even see her kittens.