The Story Blanket is a tale of kindness and community, recycling and sharing. When everyone cares for each other, the village
When Babba Zarrah notices that Nikolai has a hole in his shoe, she decides to knit him a surprise of woolen socks. Only there is no yarn to be had in the snowed-in village. So she unravels a little of the blanket the children sit on to hear her stories. Soon Babba Zarrah is surprising others in the village, too. When the children discover who is making the surprises, the villagers in turn surprise Babba Zarrah.
Excerpt
Deep in the snow-covered mountains, was the tiny village whee Babba Zarrah lived. the children loved to settle down on the big old story blanket to listen to her stories.
One day Babba Zarrah noticed there was a hole in Nikolai's shoe. When the children left, she decided to knot Nikolai some nice, warm socks. But so much snow had fallen that winter that no one could get through to the village to deliver wool. How could she knit socks without wool?
"every question has an answer," said Babba Zarrah. "I just have to think of it."
Professional Reviews
The Guardian
All the children love to sit on Babba Zarrah's many-coloured blanket and listen to the stories she tells them. But, whenever Babba Zarrah sees someone needing something warm, she unravels her blanket and, as if by magic, they find something newly made for them. Everyone loves their new clothes, but what about Babba Zarrah's blanket? Luckily, the villagers have a solution in this warm-hearted story about caring and sharing. Illustrated by Elena Odriozola, age: 3+
Saffron Tree: The Story Blanket
The Story Blanket
Written by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz
Illustrated by Elena Odriozola
Published by Andersen press
Ages 4 plus
The Story Blanket celebrates a close-knit community that practises generosity.
An old lady Babba Zarrah (why is it that most stories have only an old woman as the most sought after story teller?) captivates the village children with her stories each day as they gather on her blanket. She weaves out stories to them as she knits away in the cold, cold winter.
One day, Babba Zarrah notices a hole in the socks of one of the kids. She is determined to help but she has run out of her stock of wool. It is not to be found in the harsh winter in the village either. With an innovative approach she uses some wool from one corner of the story carpet to knit socks for the boy.
She finds many more people and even a cat in need. So Babba Zarrah continues to unravel bits of wool from the blanket and knits and anonymously gifts a scarf for the postman, mittens for the schoolmaster and so on.
Meanwhile the decreasing size of the blanket draws the children closer at their story telling session- cosy to begin with but steadily uncomfortable as they go along.
When the villagers wonder about the source of the mysterious generosity and see all the beneficiaries together, it reminds a child of the story blanket!
So the villagers get together and make a present to thank the elderly lady and how they do that and what she does with it in turn forms the rest of this elevating tale.
The story is truly warm and endearing. And the illustrations by Elena Odriozola complement & embellish it further. Just marvellous.
The colours of the blanket/ quilt reminded me of Mexico or closer home the Ranthambore project from Dastkar. The snow and the characters reminded me of Poland, Russia or even rural Japan- some place really cold. The people's faces are round with dot eyes and rosy pink cheeks - kind of like Peanut's Charlie Brown with a folk twist. Or like Matryoshka dolls with dot eyes.
This tale is the Winner of Storytelling World Resource Awards (Stories for Young Listeners) 2010 and has been translated into Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
Menasha Kids
Babba Zarrah tells children in her small village stories on her wonderful patchwork blanket. When she notices that one of the children has a hole in her shoe, she decides to knit a pair of warm socks. But with all of the snow, no one can bring yarn to the village. Within a few sips of her tea, Babba Zarrah has figured out exactly what to do. Each day she notices new uses for the yarn in her blanket. Brightly colored knit gifts are showing up all over the village but no one knows where they are coming from. But the children are noticing that they are sitting closer and closer together as the story blanket shrinks each day. Until one day, the blanket is gone. Then the villagers realize what has been happening and find their own way to show thanks.
The text in the book is thoroughly charming as are the illustrations. The words don't just tell the story, but also give small glimpses into the ways of the village without intruding in the tale at all. The book reads smoothly and easily with just the right pacing. The illustrations manage to be modern with a traditional twist. A perfect accompaniment to this story which may or may not be set in the past.
A well-knitted story and one that will read aloud well, this book is appropriate for ages 4-6. - Tasha Saecker
Pengey Penguin takes us on a memorable journey where an unlikely character, twists of fate, and minor miracles help him and his rag-tag Army of little fury animals save Christmas.325 page read to me 4-8 - 9 up reads very quickly.
