about the book
Annabelle lives in a world of black and white—chimney soot and endless white snow. She just wants some color in her world!
Then Annabelle finds a box full of yarn in colors spanning the whole rainbow. Gleefully she knits herself a sweater, but when she is done she finds the box is still full of yarn. So she knits sweaters for her whole class and teacher (after an incident in which she felt the need to apologize).
After that, there is STILL extra yarn. So, she outfits the dogs and cats of her neighborhood with colorful sweaters. Now surely there is no yarn left, Annabelle thought. But she was wrong!
Pretty soon the whole neighborhood is decked-out in newly knitted sweaters. Now Annabelle has attracted the attention of an archduke, who wants to buy the magical box. When Annabelle refuses to sell, the archduke resorts to theft.
When he gets home with his new box, what do think he finds inside?
about the author
Though he grew up in California’s farming community, his family did not farm—which led Mac Barnett to a love of books and things that don’t have much to do with farming.
Mac went to Pomona College and got a chance to study with the late writer David Foster Wallace.
Mac gained recognition with his Brixton Brothers series as well as his first picture book, Guess Again!. His book, Extra Yarn, was a 2013 Caldecott Honor winner. He is also a member of the board of directors of the non-profit 826LA, a writing center that helps students with their writing.
Mac is also a time traveler, and has opened a store called the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, with items, curiosities, and resources all time travelers might need, no matter if you’re going into the future or into the past. He lives in Berkeley, California.
Sources:
Author website
Author acceptance speech : Horn Book
Author interview : Art of the Picture Book
Author interview : BookRiot
Author biography : Wikipedia
Also by Mac Barnett:
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. Candlewick Press. 2014.
President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath. Candlewick Press. 2014.
Count the Monkeys. Hyperion Press. 2013.
Oh No! Not Again! : (Or How I Built A Time Machine to Save History) (Or At Least My History Grade. Hyperion Press. 2012.
Chloe and the Lion. Hyperion Press. 2012.
Mustache! Hyperion Press. 2011.
Oh No! : Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World. Hyperion Press. 2010.
Guess Again! Simon & Schuster. 2009.
Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem. Hyperion Press. 2009.
about the illustrator
Growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, young Jon Klassen was influenced by the illustrations of P. D. Eastman’s books. He liked the simplicity, clean style, and minimal backgrounds. He knew from the very beginning that he would be a “drawing person.”
After studying animation at Sheridan College, in 2005 Jon headed to Los Angeles, hoping to work in the film industry. For five years, he did animation on such projects as Coraline and Kung Fu Panda. During that time he did his first book illustration, which garnered several awards. He decided that he really liked working on books more than films!
In 2010, Jon turned to illustrating books full time. His preferred mediums are inks, gouaches, and acrylics. Everything is cut and assembled and then scanned into the computer to be digitally tweaked. He is currently experimenting with a new technique that uses altered photos. His studio is in his home, and he admits it is a little messy—lots of bits of paper lying around!
I Want My Hat Back is Jon’s first picture book. His book This Is Not My Hat is a 2013 Caldecott Honor winner! He says “drawing is more fun, but writing makes you feel smarter!” Right now he is drawing and writing about fish. He says it is a challenge—fish don’t do much or say anything!
Sources:
Illustrator blog/website
Illustrator interview : There’s a Book
Illustrator interview : Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Illustrator biography : Wikipedia
Also illustrated by Jon Klassen:
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett. Candlewick Press. 2014.
The Dark by Lemony Snicket. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2013.
This Is Not My Hat. Candlewick Press. 2012.
House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser. Candlewick Press. 2012.
I Want My Hat Back. Candlewick Press. 2011.
read more!
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett
One day, little Chloe gets lost in a forest and is attacked by a great big—dragon? But the title says Chloe and the Lion. It turns out that the book’s author and illustrator don’t agree which would be cooler—a dragon or a lion—so Adam just drew a dragon anyway. They fight while Chloe looks on, still lost in the woods. She might become the hero of her own story!
Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters by K.G. Campbell
When Cousin Clara’s house is eaten by a crocodile, she comes to stay with Lester and his family. She knits terrible sweaters, but out of kindness Lester wears them to school. However, after school the sweaters mysteriously disappear or get ruined. What happened?
The Magic Ball of Wool by Susanna Isern
One morning a hedgehog wakes up to find a ball of blue yarn stuck to his spines. Not knowing where it came from, but knowing what one does with yarn, the hedgehog begins knitting things for his forest friends. When he finishes each project, the yarn proves itself magical and turns into something else and entirely wonderful.