Knitting Nell
Grade 2-4–Nell is a shy girl who finds solace in knitting and purling. After being told that her voice sounds like a cricket with a pillow over its head, she retreats into her shell even more. She loves to knit mittens, scarves, and hats for her family, for herself, and for people in need. When her friends do not show interest in a sweater that she has made, she decides to enter it in the county fair. She wins first prize and is also awarded a special medal for outstanding efforts in the service of others. Her family is proud of her and her friends are amazed. After the fair, Nell begins to use her happy cricket's voice, especially when she is teaching her friends to knit. The watercolor illustrations are soft and bright and surrounded by white space. The layout varies from nine tiny pictures to a single illustration per page. Although smiles abound, the illustrations reflect the protagonist's quietness. A good addition where there is a demand for books about shyness.–Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OHCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.