Author: Jan Brett
Title: The Mitten
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Genre: Picture Book
Subgenre: Folktale
Theme: Sharing
Primary and Secondary Characters: Nicki, Baba, mole, rabbit, hedgehog, owl, badger, fox, bear,and a mouse.
Awards: None
Publishing Company: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Date of Publication: 1999
Brief Summary and How to Use With Students:
Nicki wants a pair of snow-white mittens so he asks his Baba to make him some. She warns him that snow-white mittens will be difficult to find if he was to lose one but makes them for him anyways. As soon as Nicki goes outside to play, he drops one of his mittens. Soon a mole comes along and finds the mitten and decides to climb in to stay warm. Next a rabbit, a hedgehog, an owl, badger, fox, and bear come along and also decide to fit inside the mitten to stay warm. Finally a little mouse scurries along and decided to rest on the bear’s nose. The mouse’s tail tickles the badger causing him to sneeze and the animals to fly out of the mitten and scatter across the forest. The mitten is now floating in the air and Nicki is able to bring both of his mittens back home.
This would be a good story to read to first graders to go over fantasy versus reality. Because it is a Ukrainian folktale, it can also be used to go over the origin of the story and the culture of that particular area. It can also be used with kindergarteners to go over sharing and to promote reading.
