September 29, 1997
In this agreeable companion to The Mitten, a Scandinavian girl prepares for winter's arrival by hanging her woolens out to air. When a red-and-white patterned sock falls from the line and gets stuck on his prickles, a hedgehog (who bears the too-cute name of Hedgie) acquires a curious-looking hat. Various farmyard animals mock him, but when Hedgie explains that his new headgear will protect him from the impending snowfall, they are inspired to search out similar garb. Leaving a more lasting impression than this sparse plot, Brett's signature art introduces animal characters as endearing and expressive as those who congregated in her earlier book's expandable white mitten. The format here is familiar as well: the artist frames her double-page pictures with broad borders depicting additional goings-on that hint at the tale's outcome. As before, Brett demonstrates an expert eye for color, rendering the child's embroidered coat and lush, patterned knits in vivid primary hues that pop boldly from the cool, subdued tones of the northern winter landscape and sky. Ages 4-8.
September 1, 1997
PreS-Gr 3-A clever and appealing picture book. In preparation for cold weather, Lisa takes her winter clothes out of their storage chest and hangs them up in the fresh air. A strong wind blows one of her knit socks off the line. A hedgehog sticks his head inside, and it becomes stuck on his quills. When a hen, goose, cat, dog, pig, and horse laugh at his appearance, he tries to salvage his dignity by telling each one that his new hat will keep him dry, warm, and cozy throughout the winter. Finally, Lisa finds him and removes her sock, telling him that animals don't wear clothing. But when she goes back to the clothesline, she sees all of the animals wearing her gloves, sweaters, and scarves on their heads. Brett's illustrations are done in her trademark style of highly detailed depictions of her characters and a creative use of borders. Contained within them are small illustrations foreshadowing what will happen next. Shades of grays and greens capture the chilly autumn landscape. Against this background, the earthy colors of the animals and the deep red of Lisa's sock make a stark contrast. The pictures, story, and subject matter make this a natural for sharing aloud. And while very young children may need to have the humor of Hedgie's predicament explained to them, the book's appeal will be broad.-Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal
Starred review from September 1, 1997
Ages 4^-8. Hedgie the hedgehog makes the best of a bad situation when a red woolen stocking blows off Lisa's laundry line and becomes stuck on his prickles. He is embarrassed at first, but when the mother hen laughs and asks what's on his head, he tells her, "Why, it's my new hat. Isn't it beautiful?" The goose, the dog, and the other animals laugh in turn. As with many of Brett's books, this one follows more than one line of action as it progresses: in side panels Lisa goes about simple daily tasks until she realizes her stocking is missing, and the laundry line shown in a box at the top of the page gradually empties. At the end of the story, we see the animals arrayed in brightly colored woolen mittens, scarves, and sweaters, with Hedgie, relieved of his stocking, thinking how silly they all look. This original story may not have quite the resonance of Brett's enormously and justifiably popular book "The Mitten" (1989), a retelling of a Ukrainian folk tale, but it has charm and humor in its own right. Children will love looking at the side and top panels and predicting what is going to happen next. The setting is the Danish countryside (detailed down to the moss on a tree) on a day when the first snow begins to fall, and Brett conveys the season with such loving spirit that children will almost wish for winter. ((Reviewed Sept. 1, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)