Monday, November 9, 2009

The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia

Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee

Elizabeth Amelia’s mother wanted a baby to cuddle and love, and not having one, she went to the attic and found some special wool in a trunk and knitted a beautiful baby. She was so soft even the cat liked to sleep with Elizabeth Amelia at night. Her mother would hum to her, and bounce her, and when she took her out, others wanted to hold Elizabeth Amelia she was so soft and cuddly. Eventually she grew old enough to attend school and went to the dances. Because Elizabeth Amelia was so soft and had so much bounce, the boys at school would line up just to be able to dance with her. Then she met James Elmer, and they loved to dance together and take walks in the woodsy woods. The best part was James Elmer loved wool, and he loved Elizabeth Amelia. She created the woolliest home in town with wool rugs, lamps, and doors. The only thing missing was children and since Elizabeth Amelia loved wool, she searched for the perfect wool to knit a sweet baby. Using a loose strand from her own left foot, Elizabeth Amelia knitted a baby girl and named her True. Then she knitted a baby boy, and named him Bounce. Then she knitted a set of twins, January and February. All the wool came from her legs, so she could not leave her rocking chair. Her husband, James Elmer loved her so much; he had to find more wool so Elizabeth Amelia would be back to her bouncy self.

Painted in transparent watercolor, the illustrations are bright and very colorful, sure to catch the eye of young children. This is an imaginative story of how a mother’s longing for children was creatively solved. Young children should be entertained by the idea of a family of knitted children and the very colorful illustrations.

BIBLIO: 2009, Henry Holt and Co., Ages 4 - 8, $16.99
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-8050-6535-0

REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 11-5-09

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