What do you think?
Jane Cabrera's Story Time
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
A girl who can't seem to stop knitting and a sheep who just can't say no star in this captivating new rendition of the well-loved nursery song.
As a host of characters from nursery rhymes receive wonderful handmade gifts, poor Black Sheep's coat grows thinner. But there is a special reward in store for a generous sheep in this story about the joy of giving.
For extra fun, follow a winding strand of yarn through the pages of the book. Sheet music is included.
As a host of characters from nursery rhymes receive wonderful handmade gifts, poor Black Sheep's coat grows thinner. But there is a special reward in store for a generous sheep in this story about the joy of giving.
For extra fun, follow a winding strand of yarn through the pages of the book. Sheet music is included.
Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
About the author
Jane Cabrera
86 books89 followersJane Cabrera is best known as an Author and Illustrator of Children's Books.
She has written and illustrated 56 books which have been translated into over 25 languages and won awards in the US and Europe. She lives on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor National Park in the UK.
Her books range from picture story books to concept board books for babies.
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janecabrera...
She has written and illustrated 56 books which have been translated into over 25 languages and won awards in the US and Europe. She lives on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor National Park in the UK.
Her books range from picture story books to concept board books for babies.
FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janecabrera...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
May 20, 2017
A new version of this old classic, in which the sheep is asked by a little girl (try not tripping up when MISS replaces SIR) for numerous batches of wool. The end result is startling but also heart-warming for the reader. Neo complained that this was not the version he knew and the changes made it hard for him to sing along to the story.
October 1, 2015
An adorably handled and illustrated version of the classic nursery rhyme. Add this to your collection.
October 31, 2017
Read this to a group of preschoolers. You can get people to participate during this book thanks to the fact that it's a nursery rhyme.
July 30, 2020
I love how the words of the song were changed to take out the master/dame parts.
August 11, 2018
It does feel weird to say "Yes, miss, yes, miss" instead of "Yes, sir, yes, sir", but you'll soon get used to it in this delightful re-telling of the nursery rhyme.
I like how instead of the bags going to "the master, the dame, and the little boy who lives in the lane", the bags are shown as finished knitted product for the people who receive them.
The illustrations add a lot of life to the story.
* Identify all the other nursery rhyme characters you see.
* Follow the blue yarn across the pages
* Count all the people who benefit from the sheep's wool
* Figure out how many bags of wool were gathered.
Of course, this isn't the way sheep give wool, their whole coat is sheered at once, not thinned out gradually, so there's a little quibble there. Still it's a fun book.
I like how instead of the bags going to "the master, the dame, and the little boy who lives in the lane", the bags are shown as finished knitted product for the people who receive them.
The illustrations add a lot of life to the story.
* Identify all the other nursery rhyme characters you see.
* Follow the blue yarn across the pages
* Count all the people who benefit from the sheep's wool
* Figure out how many bags of wool were gathered.
Of course, this isn't the way sheep give wool, their whole coat is sheered at once, not thinned out gradually, so there's a little quibble there. Still it's a fun book.
June 21, 2016
1. Wool is not the same as yarn.
2. The girl should not apologize at the end for taking the wool.
A. the sheep gave it
B. shearing sheep is for their good, so they don't get hot and so the wool doesn't get all matted and gross. you would never shear a sheep in the winter when it would get cold, which is what this book implies.
Probably not at all the take-away I am supposed to get from this cutesy little story, but in a world where there are so many GOOD children's books, I tend to be a little picky. It's not that hard to write stories that are at least mostly accurate (or else fun and fanciful) but to me, this seems to be neither.
2. The girl should not apologize at the end for taking the wool.
A. the sheep gave it
B. shearing sheep is for their good, so they don't get hot and so the wool doesn't get all matted and gross. you would never shear a sheep in the winter when it would get cold, which is what this book implies.
Probably not at all the take-away I am supposed to get from this cutesy little story, but in a world where there are so many GOOD children's books, I tend to be a little picky. It's not that hard to write stories that are at least mostly accurate (or else fun and fanciful) but to me, this seems to be neither.
October 2, 2015
Very cute! I liked the way the story evolved from the original. Adorable illustrations, too!
November 27, 2016
Thanksgiving 2016 an Arthur favorite
October 5, 2017
Title: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Author: Jane Cabrera
Illustrator: N/A
Genre: Nursery Rhyme, Picture Book,
Theme(s): Nursery Rhymes, Rhyming, Animals/Sheep, Knitting, Sharing,
Opening line/sentence: Baa, baa black sheep. Have you any wool?
Brief Book Summary: Creating a new spin on the classic Baa, Baa, Black Sheep nursery rhyme, a girl asks a sheep for his wool. Throughout the story, the sheep continues to give away his wool to the girl, until he is ultimately left with none. At this point, the sheep is given clothes made from his wool to keep him warm.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Reviewer name N/A, Horn Book Guide: (3) PS An enterprising young knitter repeatedly asks a black sheep if it has any wool. Each time, the sheep happily obliges with the traditional three bags full; the following spread shows how the wool gets used. Cabrera's twist on the nursery rhyme is accessible and funny--preschoolers will enjoy, for example, the sheep's increasing nakedness, and embarrassment, as the wool is donated. http://www.hornbookguide.com.ezaccess...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Reviewer name N/A, Kirkus Review: Who knew that one little girl with her basket of knitting needles could so tax the wool production of a generous black sheep? Starting with the familiar refrain, the nursery rhyme veers into a rhyming, amusing place: “One for a hat, and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle for the kittens.” Soon, she is knitting vests for birds, sweaters for the shepherd, wigs and beards for pigs, a tea cozy, and even black sweaters for tiny white sheep! Careful readers will notice that the black sheep’s own wool is getting thinner and thinner with each page turn. While all the other farm critters and people in the village are cozy in their black sweaters and blankets, the sheep is eventually bald all over! But, never fear, our little heroine has a plan. There’s a lot to appreciate here: the gift recipients are all familiar nursery characters (Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, the three little kittens, the three pigs, the old woman in the shoe—and her brood is multiethnic), the thinning of the sheep’s wool is slow and subtle, making the big reveal a true surprise, and the clouds look like sheep. Cabrera’s winning style—acrylics with bold, black outlines—is perfect for the preschool audience. Both lap listeners and the audience at story hour will be able to see every detail. Another winner from Cabrera. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree that this is an endearing and funny version of the original tale. I somehow did not notice some of the nursery rhyme characters until reading the Kirkus Review, which I thought added some great detail. I would love to read this to a child, since as the Horn Book guide points out, a child would find the sheep’s embarrassment and nakedness even funnier than I did.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: I love how the illustrations go between showing the girl and the sheep to the colorful spreads that show how his wool is being used. The illustrations also do a great job of expanding upon the story by showing the embarrassment on the sheep’s face as he gets smaller and smaller. My favorite part was the ending, as I didn’t really know what to expect and the sheep receiving clothing made from his wool made for a happy ending to the story. The tone of the book is very light and humorous, while still staying quite true to the original.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think that this would go very well with a lesson on nursery rhymes and similar stories to show how the original stories can be taken and adapted into new stories. So often we see this done with the three little pigs and I think this would be a great example as well, especially as it features characters from other nursery rhymes in the background. The book could also be used across content areas to get into music, as the last page features the music and original words to the song plus extended lyrics. All of this could be used together to show all of the different, multimodal ways that a story can be told.
Author: Jane Cabrera
Illustrator: N/A
Genre: Nursery Rhyme, Picture Book,
Theme(s): Nursery Rhymes, Rhyming, Animals/Sheep, Knitting, Sharing,
Opening line/sentence: Baa, baa black sheep. Have you any wool?
Brief Book Summary: Creating a new spin on the classic Baa, Baa, Black Sheep nursery rhyme, a girl asks a sheep for his wool. Throughout the story, the sheep continues to give away his wool to the girl, until he is ultimately left with none. At this point, the sheep is given clothes made from his wool to keep him warm.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Reviewer name N/A, Horn Book Guide: (3) PS An enterprising young knitter repeatedly asks a black sheep if it has any wool. Each time, the sheep happily obliges with the traditional three bags full; the following spread shows how the wool gets used. Cabrera's twist on the nursery rhyme is accessible and funny--preschoolers will enjoy, for example, the sheep's increasing nakedness, and embarrassment, as the wool is donated. http://www.hornbookguide.com.ezaccess...
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Reviewer name N/A, Kirkus Review: Who knew that one little girl with her basket of knitting needles could so tax the wool production of a generous black sheep? Starting with the familiar refrain, the nursery rhyme veers into a rhyming, amusing place: “One for a hat, and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle for the kittens.” Soon, she is knitting vests for birds, sweaters for the shepherd, wigs and beards for pigs, a tea cozy, and even black sweaters for tiny white sheep! Careful readers will notice that the black sheep’s own wool is getting thinner and thinner with each page turn. While all the other farm critters and people in the village are cozy in their black sweaters and blankets, the sheep is eventually bald all over! But, never fear, our little heroine has a plan. There’s a lot to appreciate here: the gift recipients are all familiar nursery characters (Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, the three little kittens, the three pigs, the old woman in the shoe—and her brood is multiethnic), the thinning of the sheep’s wool is slow and subtle, making the big reveal a true surprise, and the clouds look like sheep. Cabrera’s winning style—acrylics with bold, black outlines—is perfect for the preschool audience. Both lap listeners and the audience at story hour will be able to see every detail. Another winner from Cabrera. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree that this is an endearing and funny version of the original tale. I somehow did not notice some of the nursery rhyme characters until reading the Kirkus Review, which I thought added some great detail. I would love to read this to a child, since as the Horn Book guide points out, a child would find the sheep’s embarrassment and nakedness even funnier than I did.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: I love how the illustrations go between showing the girl and the sheep to the colorful spreads that show how his wool is being used. The illustrations also do a great job of expanding upon the story by showing the embarrassment on the sheep’s face as he gets smaller and smaller. My favorite part was the ending, as I didn’t really know what to expect and the sheep receiving clothing made from his wool made for a happy ending to the story. The tone of the book is very light and humorous, while still staying quite true to the original.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think that this would go very well with a lesson on nursery rhymes and similar stories to show how the original stories can be taken and adapted into new stories. So often we see this done with the three little pigs and I think this would be a great example as well, especially as it features characters from other nursery rhymes in the background. The book could also be used across content areas to get into music, as the last page features the music and original words to the song plus extended lyrics. All of this could be used together to show all of the different, multimodal ways that a story can be told.
March 9, 2024
Inspired by
Mots d'Heures: Gousses, Rames
, ChatGPT-4 and I have been discussing this apparently innocent nursery rhyme. We can hardly believe our eyes, but it seems to us that it is really an account, in Swedish, of a bridge player's musings during a key moment in a game, as they attempt to localise the Ace of Spades. Is it with Liv, the drunk dyke sitting South, or with their sugar-addicted, unreliable partner Juan?
Or what do you think? Read our compelling analysis and judge for yourself:
Barbar, bläckskit!
Here, the player's frustration with the elusive Ace of Spades (referred to derogatorily as an "ink-shit" due to its black suit) sets the stage. This card is crucial to the game's outcome. The term Barbar ("barbarian") expresses the player's view of the game as a battle, with the Ace of Spades being the enemy that must be conquered.
Arv ju än i tull?
Interpreted as "Inheritance naturally still in customs?" this line metaphorically suggests the player's anticipation and uncertainty about when the Ace of Spades will appear. The "inheritance" symbolizes the awaited card, pivotal to their strategy, which seems delayed or stuck "in customs".
Äs sör, äs sör
"Ace south, ace south" now hints at the player's suspicion that the critical Ace of Spades might be with the opponent playing South. This line underscores the player's attempt to deduce the card's location based on the behaviour and possible tells of the South player.
Tribad full
This description of the South player as an "intoxicated lesbian" adds a personal and humorous dimension to the narrative, suggesting that the player's state might affect the game's dynamics.
Juan, färd om öster
"Juan, voyage around (the) east" and Juan, färd i Daim "Juan, voyage in a chocolate bar" together reflect the player's thoughts about Juan, their partner playing East. Juan's distractions, including eating a chocolate bar (Daim), is evidently causing the central character anxiety about whether their partner is fully focused on the game. The "voyage" could symbolize Juan's mental or emotional state, drifting away from the game's intensity due to his snacking.
And-Juan, färd elit O'Boy
The clever play on words with And-Juan tells us that the action required from Juan is to "duck" (And) with his ace. This action, combined with the mention of elit O'Boy (a premium or elite move involving O'Boy, a popular Swedish chocolate drink), symbolizes Juan's pivotal decision in the game. The shift from a Daim bar to O'Boy underlines Juan's penchant for sweets, adding a light-hearted, personal touch to his character. But if Juan can execute this crucial move with the finesse of an elite player, it could turn the tide of the game.
Det! Livs dunderlän
The phrase Det! Livs dunderlän, interpreted as "That! Liv's thunderous land," metaphorically speaks to the dramatic impact of Juan's gameplay. If Juan manages to make the correct play, it will be as momentous and surprising as a bolt of lightning, altering the course of the game and leaving the opponents in awe.
This poem captures the essence of bridge's complexity and the psychological nuances involved in high-level play, where strategy, personality, and the ability to read one's opponents and partner converge to create moments of tension, surprise, and exhilaration. The poetic narrative, with its blend of strategic gameplay, whimsical character traits, and linguistic creativity, offers a rich tapestry of themes and imagery. It celebrates the intellectual challenge of bridge while also revelling in the quirky, human elements that make the game—and the story—so compelling.
Or what do you think? Read our compelling analysis and judge for yourself:
Barbar, bläckskit!
Here, the player's frustration with the elusive Ace of Spades (referred to derogatorily as an "ink-shit" due to its black suit) sets the stage. This card is crucial to the game's outcome. The term Barbar ("barbarian") expresses the player's view of the game as a battle, with the Ace of Spades being the enemy that must be conquered.
Arv ju än i tull?
Interpreted as "Inheritance naturally still in customs?" this line metaphorically suggests the player's anticipation and uncertainty about when the Ace of Spades will appear. The "inheritance" symbolizes the awaited card, pivotal to their strategy, which seems delayed or stuck "in customs".
Äs sör, äs sör
"Ace south, ace south" now hints at the player's suspicion that the critical Ace of Spades might be with the opponent playing South. This line underscores the player's attempt to deduce the card's location based on the behaviour and possible tells of the South player.
Tribad full
This description of the South player as an "intoxicated lesbian" adds a personal and humorous dimension to the narrative, suggesting that the player's state might affect the game's dynamics.
Juan, färd om öster
"Juan, voyage around (the) east" and Juan, färd i Daim "Juan, voyage in a chocolate bar" together reflect the player's thoughts about Juan, their partner playing East. Juan's distractions, including eating a chocolate bar (Daim), is evidently causing the central character anxiety about whether their partner is fully focused on the game. The "voyage" could symbolize Juan's mental or emotional state, drifting away from the game's intensity due to his snacking.
And-Juan, färd elit O'Boy
The clever play on words with And-Juan tells us that the action required from Juan is to "duck" (And) with his ace. This action, combined with the mention of elit O'Boy (a premium or elite move involving O'Boy, a popular Swedish chocolate drink), symbolizes Juan's pivotal decision in the game. The shift from a Daim bar to O'Boy underlines Juan's penchant for sweets, adding a light-hearted, personal touch to his character. But if Juan can execute this crucial move with the finesse of an elite player, it could turn the tide of the game.
Det! Livs dunderlän
The phrase Det! Livs dunderlän, interpreted as "That! Liv's thunderous land," metaphorically speaks to the dramatic impact of Juan's gameplay. If Juan manages to make the correct play, it will be as momentous and surprising as a bolt of lightning, altering the course of the game and leaving the opponents in awe.
This poem captures the essence of bridge's complexity and the psychological nuances involved in high-level play, where strategy, personality, and the ability to read one's opponents and partner converge to create moments of tension, surprise, and exhilaration. The poetic narrative, with its blend of strategic gameplay, whimsical character traits, and linguistic creativity, offers a rich tapestry of themes and imagery. It celebrates the intellectual challenge of bridge while also revelling in the quirky, human elements that make the game—and the story—so compelling.
Read
March 1, 2017Title: Baa Baa Black Sheep
Author: Jane Cabera
Genre: Rhyme
Theme(s): fiction, rhyme
Opening line/sentence: Baa, baa, black sheep. Have you any wool?
Brief Book Summary: A little girl asks the black sheep for wool many times so she can knit different things for other animals. The black sheep keeps giving the girl wool until he has run out. The little girl then gives the black sheep clothes until his wool grows back.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2015 (Vol. 83, No. 14)) Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2015 (Vol. 83, No. 14) )
Who knew that one little girl with her basket of knitting needles could so tax the wool production of a generous black sheep? Starting with the familiar refrain, the nursery rhyme veers into a rhyming, amusing place: "One for a hat, and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle for the kittens." Soon, she is knitting vests for birds, sweaters for the shepherd, wigs and beards for pigs, a tea cozy, and even black sweaters for tiny white sheep! Careful readers will notice that the black sheep's own wool is getting thinner and thinner with each page turn. While all the other farm critters and people in the village are cozy in their black sweaters and blankets, the sheep is eventually bald all over! But, never fear, our little heroine has a plan. There's a lot to appreciate here: the gift recipients are all familiar nursery characters (Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, the three little kittens, the three pigs, the old woman in the shoe—and her brood is multiethnic), the thinning of the sheep's wool is slow and subtle, making the big reveal a true surprise, and the clouds look like sheep. Cabrera's winning style—acrylics with bold, black outlines—is perfect for the preschool audience. Both lap listeners and the audience at story hour will be able to see every detail.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: REVIEWER: Ilene Cooper (SOURCE: Booklist )
A little girl with a Dutch bob meets a black sheep and asks her the traditional question. Yes, in fact, she does have three bags full, and she proceeds to go into considerable detail about what shall be done with them: One for a hat, / and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle / for the kittens. Furthermore, the wool will be used for a bird s nest, to make a sweater for Bo Peep, and to create little sweaters for tiny sheep. That would seem to be enough, but the girl keeps asking the question, and the sheep spins a fairy-tale world full of answers, including making a wool beard to disguise one of the Three Little Pigs from the wolf. The whole book from its clever concepts and rhyming text to its adorable textured-collage artwork is fun, but watching the black sheep go from being fat and furry to nearly naked after giving away her wool will make children laugh out loud. Teachers might like to use the accompanying song, set to the traditional tune, for a play or skits.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews comment on the authors use of rhyme which helps to make the book fun. They also both talk about the detail that can be seen in each illustration. I liked in the second review it gave suggestions of how a teacher could incorporate more involvement from students by acting out the scene or having a tune that goes along with the words. It would only make kids love the book more.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The plot is simple in the fact that every time the girl comes to ask the sheep for wool, he gives it to her until he has no more wool. It is very repetitive in the girl always asks “Baa, baa black sheep have you any wool?” and the sheep always responds “Yes girl, three bags full”. The style of writing can be seen that is a rhyming book that creates a nice flow with the words throughout the entire book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Something that could be done in the classroom, like mentioned in the second review, would be to have a tune or create the words into a song that the students could sing along with. This would get each child actively engaged with the book. This is also a book that could be easily acted out and involve all the students in some way.
Author: Jane Cabera
Genre: Rhyme
Theme(s): fiction, rhyme
Opening line/sentence: Baa, baa, black sheep. Have you any wool?
Brief Book Summary: A little girl asks the black sheep for wool many times so she can knit different things for other animals. The black sheep keeps giving the girl wool until he has run out. The little girl then gives the black sheep clothes until his wool grows back.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2015 (Vol. 83, No. 14)) Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2015 (Vol. 83, No. 14) )
Who knew that one little girl with her basket of knitting needles could so tax the wool production of a generous black sheep? Starting with the familiar refrain, the nursery rhyme veers into a rhyming, amusing place: "One for a hat, and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle for the kittens." Soon, she is knitting vests for birds, sweaters for the shepherd, wigs and beards for pigs, a tea cozy, and even black sweaters for tiny white sheep! Careful readers will notice that the black sheep's own wool is getting thinner and thinner with each page turn. While all the other farm critters and people in the village are cozy in their black sweaters and blankets, the sheep is eventually bald all over! But, never fear, our little heroine has a plan. There's a lot to appreciate here: the gift recipients are all familiar nursery characters (Bo Peep, Little Boy Blue, the three little kittens, the three pigs, the old woman in the shoe—and her brood is multiethnic), the thinning of the sheep's wool is slow and subtle, making the big reveal a true surprise, and the clouds look like sheep. Cabrera's winning style—acrylics with bold, black outlines—is perfect for the preschool audience. Both lap listeners and the audience at story hour will be able to see every detail.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: REVIEWER: Ilene Cooper (SOURCE: Booklist )
A little girl with a Dutch bob meets a black sheep and asks her the traditional question. Yes, in fact, she does have three bags full, and she proceeds to go into considerable detail about what shall be done with them: One for a hat, / and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle / for the kittens. Furthermore, the wool will be used for a bird s nest, to make a sweater for Bo Peep, and to create little sweaters for tiny sheep. That would seem to be enough, but the girl keeps asking the question, and the sheep spins a fairy-tale world full of answers, including making a wool beard to disguise one of the Three Little Pigs from the wolf. The whole book from its clever concepts and rhyming text to its adorable textured-collage artwork is fun, but watching the black sheep go from being fat and furry to nearly naked after giving away her wool will make children laugh out loud. Teachers might like to use the accompanying song, set to the traditional tune, for a play or skits.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews comment on the authors use of rhyme which helps to make the book fun. They also both talk about the detail that can be seen in each illustration. I liked in the second review it gave suggestions of how a teacher could incorporate more involvement from students by acting out the scene or having a tune that goes along with the words. It would only make kids love the book more.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The plot is simple in the fact that every time the girl comes to ask the sheep for wool, he gives it to her until he has no more wool. It is very repetitive in the girl always asks “Baa, baa black sheep have you any wool?” and the sheep always responds “Yes girl, three bags full”. The style of writing can be seen that is a rhyming book that creates a nice flow with the words throughout the entire book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
Something that could be done in the classroom, like mentioned in the second review, would be to have a tune or create the words into a song that the students could sing along with. This would get each child actively engaged with the book. This is also a book that could be easily acted out and involve all the students in some way.
November 7, 2017
1. This book has not won any awards.
2. I think this book is appropriate for preschool through first grade.
3. In this version of the popular nursery rhyme, a little girl continuously asks the black sheep for wool. Considering the sheep is very generous, she always offers three bags full of wool for the little girl to knit things for other people. However, one day the sheep runs out of wool, but the little girl gives the sheep a sweater as a thank you, until the sheep's wool grows back.
4. I like this version of the nursery rhyme because the little girl and the black sheep express important characteristics. I think they model generous and grateful attitudes which are important for young children. Also, I like the classic rhyming words.
5. I would use this book to emphasize phonics and phonemic awareness in the classroom. Also, it is a fun nursery rhyme to put to song and sing.
2. I think this book is appropriate for preschool through first grade.
3. In this version of the popular nursery rhyme, a little girl continuously asks the black sheep for wool. Considering the sheep is very generous, she always offers three bags full of wool for the little girl to knit things for other people. However, one day the sheep runs out of wool, but the little girl gives the sheep a sweater as a thank you, until the sheep's wool grows back.
4. I like this version of the nursery rhyme because the little girl and the black sheep express important characteristics. I think they model generous and grateful attitudes which are important for young children. Also, I like the classic rhyming words.
5. I would use this book to emphasize phonics and phonemic awareness in the classroom. Also, it is a fun nursery rhyme to put to song and sing.
October 2, 2017
Awards the book has received (if any): none
Appropriate grade level(s): pre-k or lower
Original 3-line summary: This book is about the classic nursery rhyme baa, baa, black sheep however it also tells a story. Along the way the sheep gives gifts to the people he meets. He then learns that giving something to other people is good and gets a reward.
Original 3-line review: I thought this book was super cute. It's a good way to get children to learn a classic while adding little bits and pieces to keep them interesting.
2-3 possible in-class uses- teaches kids about giving and being nice
-teaches about karma- doing something good and getting something in reward.
Appropriate grade level(s): pre-k or lower
Original 3-line summary: This book is about the classic nursery rhyme baa, baa, black sheep however it also tells a story. Along the way the sheep gives gifts to the people he meets. He then learns that giving something to other people is good and gets a reward.
Original 3-line review: I thought this book was super cute. It's a good way to get children to learn a classic while adding little bits and pieces to keep them interesting.
2-3 possible in-class uses- teaches kids about giving and being nice
-teaches about karma- doing something good and getting something in reward.
December 2, 2017
1. None.
2. Pre k- Kindergarten.
3. A newer version of this old classic stars a girl and a sheep. A girl who can't stop knitting and a giving sheep. This sheep gives so much his coat become thinner and thinner. The sheep gets a new coat knit by the girl.
4. Great nursery rhyme about giving and the joy you feel through the act. this newer version offers extra fun by following a strand of of yarn through the pages of the book. Great way to keep the reader engaged.
5. Create their own craft using yarn and soft cotton balls (as sheeps coat), if taught around Thanksgiving they can write about what they're thankful for.
2. Pre k- Kindergarten.
3. A newer version of this old classic stars a girl and a sheep. A girl who can't stop knitting and a giving sheep. This sheep gives so much his coat become thinner and thinner. The sheep gets a new coat knit by the girl.
4. Great nursery rhyme about giving and the joy you feel through the act. this newer version offers extra fun by following a strand of of yarn through the pages of the book. Great way to keep the reader engaged.
5. Create their own craft using yarn and soft cotton balls (as sheeps coat), if taught around Thanksgiving they can write about what they're thankful for.
April 30, 2018
1. None
2. PreK-2
3. This story is a version of the original rhyme where the little girl begins knitting sweaters, hats, scarves and wigs for all different critters and friends until Black Sheep is without any wool left on its body.
4. I liked this take on the traditional tale because it's original and creative. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, making for a visually entertaining take on the familiar rhyme.
5. This book could be used as a read aloud, or even for a lesson on details. Students could recall the characters and corresponding items that were knit and gifted to them.
2. PreK-2
3. This story is a version of the original rhyme where the little girl begins knitting sweaters, hats, scarves and wigs for all different critters and friends until Black Sheep is without any wool left on its body.
4. I liked this take on the traditional tale because it's original and creative. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, making for a visually entertaining take on the familiar rhyme.
5. This book could be used as a read aloud, or even for a lesson on details. Students could recall the characters and corresponding items that were knit and gifted to them.
November 14, 2020
This book is good for kindergarten and first grade. The book starts off with a little girl asking sheep for wool. The sheep then give her some wool. This continues on until the sheep are bare.
I like this book because it will entertain children as it is read. At the end of the book the sheep has no wool left. However, the little girl gives a sweater and scarf to the sheep to keep warm.
This book can be used in the classroom for a poetry unit. This book could also be used to teach empathy and emotions.
I like this book because it will entertain children as it is read. At the end of the book the sheep has no wool left. However, the little girl gives a sweater and scarf to the sheep to keep warm.
This book can be used in the classroom for a poetry unit. This book could also be used to teach empathy and emotions.
December 5, 2019
I liked this book very much. It is of course based on the simple song/rhyme that we all know but takes a twist about who the wool is going to. I liked the change in phrases and the end of the story was super cute. Kids can see the sheep have less and less wool through the pages and try to infer how the story will end. I would bring this book into my classroom as a read aloud but it could also be an independent read for emergent readers. Rating 4 for keeping the rhyme but being new about it.
May 13, 2017
This is an entertaining picture book inspired by the Mother Goose rhyme that includes the sheep's perspective. Young listeners will enjoy pointing out the many familiar characters like Little Boy Blue and the Three Little Kittens who are incorporated into the story. A fun book to share with preschoolers.
January 7, 2019
A picture book version of the nursery song, but with more verses than normal. What starts off as quite a woolly sheep gets less and less woolly (three bags full at a time) as the song goes on until the sheared sheep is quite naked and a little girl offers him a sweater to keep warm. A cute ending! Love these illustrations.
April 14, 2022
Read this for Story Time and the kids seemed to enjoy it. One child pointed out things in the illustrations which was fun. I also asked the children how many of some items do they see and we counted them together throughout the story (bird's eggs, the little sheep, etc.). Great vibrant illustrations!
July 27, 2025
This re-telling does not up-level the classic nursery rhyme in my opinion, nor does it add new dimensions the "messy muddle" and "tea cozy" might need to be explained to American audiences, and I feel bad at the end that Little Miss apologizes to the sheep and that the sheep looks uncomfortable in wool clothes.
August 7, 2018
This book has the usual story of a child asking for wool from the black sheep. The wool gets made into several different things for various characters. At the end, the sheep has no wool left and the other characters give him a sweater to wear.
December 2, 2020
Of the Jane Cabrera song books, I think this one is my favorite that I've read. I have incorporated it into a sharing themed storytime and have read/sung it with success with toddlers up to 1st graders.
December 2, 2021
I would use this book in my classroom if I were to teach younger students that are learning about rhyming. This book can be played with a song as well and can make the students engaged in the learning.
March 19, 2024
Summary: Baa, baa, black sheep. Have you any wool? Yes miss, yes miss, three bags full. A winsome sheep has a seemingly endless supply of wool for an avid knitter. She showers her friends with gifts. But what will black sheep get in return? -- inside left jacket flap
September 6, 2017
Plenty cute enough to check out, even if the ending is (spoiler alert)
really making me wish I had a good dad joke about naked sheep. Watch this space?
really making me wish I had a good dad joke about naked sheep. Watch this space?
November 29, 2017
Perfect! Easy to sing, great illustrations, not too long
December 14, 2017
This story had verses that I didn't know existed.
February 27, 2018
I'm a sucker for yarn, so obviously I love this book. The illustrations are so adorable!
April 13, 2018
Fun version.
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