Little Lamb, Have You Any Wool?

by Isabel Minhós Martins, Yara Kono

Through charming dialogue and warm illustrations, Little Lamb, Have You Any Wool? tells the story of a young child and his lamb preparing for the cold winter ahead. The little boy asks the lamb if he can use its wool to protect everything from his head to his toes from the coming frost.

The lamb agrees, and the boy uses the soft wool to make himself a coat, a scarf, some socks, and everything else he needs. But then, he wonders, won't his newly shorn little lamb be cold? In the spirit of cooperation and caring friendship, the boy makes another set of winter clothes for the lamb. Now, they are both warm and ready to face winter together!

Young readers will delight in the saturated colors of the illustrations and the classic message of friendship communicated through the whimsical text of Little Lamb, Have You Any Wool?

Genres: Picture Books, Knitting, Childrens, Portuguese Literature, Friendship, Animals

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

É formada em Design de Comunicação pela Faculdade de Belas Artes (1997).
Fundou, juntamente com 3 amigos, a editora Planeta Tangerina.
Ganhou uma Menção Honrosa no I Prémio Internacional Compostela de Álbuns Ilustrados (“Ovelhinha, Dá-me Lã”, Kalandraka, ilustrações de Yara Kono).
Em 2010, foi nomeada para os Prémios de Autor da SPA/RTP na categoria Literatura Infanto-Juvenil com “O Livro dos Quintais” (Planeta Tangerina, ilustrações de Bernardo Carvalho).
“O Mundo Num Segundo” (na edição espanhola da Intermon Oxfam) é distinguido pelo Banco del Libro como “Melhor Livro Infantil 2010”.
Tem livros publicados em Espanha, França, Inglaterra, Itália, Brasil, Noruega, Coreia.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young child continually asks a lamb for wool to make winter garments. Just when you think this is going to turn into The Giving Tree, the sweet ending will surprise you. The text might make for a somewhat clunky read-aloud, but I adored the illustrations by Yara Kono.

[Rachael Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this as a flannel board activity. This is a great book to talk about what happens to the wool we get from sheep.

[João Teixeira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um bom livro para crianças. O texto tem musicalidade.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good example of a book not being quite so good after it's translated from the original language. The words are arranged in stanzas that kinda-not quite-really don't rhyme. They tried. I like the illustrations a lot and the story is a good one. The translation just makes the wording awkward.

Could be used for toddler or preschool storytimes.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes. This was bad! I really wanted to like it being a avid knitter and sheep enthusiast, especially since it features a little Boy knitting, but the bad far outweighs the good in this book.
The text read like it was about to rhyme...but didn't. Little lamb, little lamb, have you any wool is a nursery RHYME! As in it's supposed to RHYME, idiot! So we have the setup for a rhyming couplet without the second verse! I found that extremely off-putting as I'm trying to read it aloud. I'm trying to find the rhythm but there isn't any to find! The back flap says the author lives in Portugal; perhaps the text didn't translate well? Could that be what happened here? It actually sounds like someone who doesn't speak english. People don't really sound like that. Why would you write a book to sound that awkward and forced?
And what is up with the two page spread of finger people? Nothing alludes to his fingers being unhappy people in the text. Instead we are given the horrible simile: "My fingers are as icy as little icicles." Wow. Imagine that. Icicles are icy?!? No kidding? (Smacks forehead)
I really can't understand how this went all the way to publication.

[Jj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. The story and writing were...odd. Not odd in a good way, just awkward and fell flat. Perhaps much was lost in translation from the original (published in Spanish in 2010)? That said, the illustrations are quite delightful and I like the unusual color palette. I concur with the disappointment of others on the lack of rhyme in the story. It certainly doesn't have to rhyme, but the whole set-up suggests it before it comes to a halting stop and devolves into what is a meandering and dull story. The illustrations and their various designs (some cool patterns in there!) are really the only bright spots about this one... a shame, really--because a nice sheep/wool story is always a welcome addition to a picture book collection.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a knitter who really wanted to like this book, it pains me to admit that it was just okay. A young boy asks a sheep for some wool to knit a sweater, and then a bit more to make a hat, a scarf and some mittens. The sheep gladly gives up all her wool and the boy thanks her by dressing her in the clothing he made.

A bit of a confusing message about sharing. The sheep also has some lines in the story; I wish that the illustrations or font had indicated that the sheep was speaking the lines on those pages.

Recommended for preschool readers, who will appreciate the repetition and not be distracted by the lack of meaningful message.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love picture books about sheep and I was very excited about this one because the art was amazing and at first it brought to my Silverstein's The Giving Tree. As the story went on though it felt long and weaker than the beginning which started off strong. Art is worthy of a higher rating, but the writing is not.

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute pictures, but the story just kept going and the conclusion was a little odd. Why would the lamb need the wool clothes? They are sheared for summer and the wool grows back for winter. I know it's a kids book, but it isn't set up to be unrealistic, even though it totally is. Could have been a nice story about co-existence, etc. but this was a miss for me.

[Carly Reighard · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I was so excited to read it. The beautiful pictures pull the reader in and it has a positive message about sharing. I was kind of disappointed, however, in the writing.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boy asks his friend the lamb for wool so he can make himself warm clothing for winter, and the lamb is always willing to help.

[poeticsupermom · Rating 2 out of 5]

See my recommendation here: http://www.openbooktoronto.com/news/r...

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations, but I think perhaps the story lost something in translation? Perhaps it rhymed in Portuguese?

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good winter picture book for storytime

[Kathy (Kindle-aholic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute,but didn't hold the kids' interest.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this author and the illustrations were lovely, but something was lost in translation. Boo

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

this would be a good book for a little boy that has a mother that knits. Cute

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but really clunky. I'm assuming the translation is to blame.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Child repeatedly asks the lamb for his wool to keep warm.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story of a little boy wanting some wool to make warm clothing. The sheep unravels his wool for the boy. The boys makes lots of warm clothes but also makes a set for the sheep.

Teaching application- Great story for a winter or clothing unit. The kids could have a relay race with mittens, hat, scarf, sweater... The clothing items could be written on chart paper first in order of the relay.

[carpe librorum :)]

Uma história de embalar, podia ser musicada e cantada, muito quentinha e ternurenta, bem propícia para o Inverno! Fez-me lembrar como sabe bem tricotar nesta altura...