Little Lamb, Have You Any Wool?

PreS-Gr 1—In this brief fable, a rosy-cheeked boy asks his pet lamb, "Little lamb, little lamb, have you any wool?" He is worried about the approaching winter and wants to knit some clothes to keep himself warm. The lamb obligingly provides some wool, and the boy makes himself a sweater. Still worried about the frigid temperatures, he asks again and again for more wool, ending up with a hat, scarf, mittens, snuggly socks, and a long coat. Finally, the lamb is completely shorn, and the child realizes that his pet now has no protection from the winter weather. Fortunately, he has knit extra items and bestows upon the little animal a sweater, scarf, some socks, and a hat. The lamb dons the new wardrobe, and together they look forward to a good winter. Set against pale green, patterned backgrounds, the boy and his pet, which resembles a ball of yarn, are quirky characters depicted with childlike simplicity. The illustrations are reminiscent of old-fashioned offset prints, adding a touch of charm and whimsy to the story. Although not as striking as Sylvia Van Ommen's The Surprise (Lemniscaat, 2007), this picture book has a valuable lesson about friendship and cooperation.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA