Muriel's Red Sweater

by Dara Dokas, Bernadette Pons (Illustrator)

Muriel the duck pulls on her favorite red sweater and hurries all over town to deliver invitations to her birthday party. She?s so busy she never notices the funny things happening around her...like the fact that her sweater is shrinking...and what?s that trailing after her? By the time she returns home, her sweater has disappeared, and all her friends have found good uses for nice bright red yarn! Luckily, the daffy duck?s friends arrive just in time with the perfect gift?a new sweater! This deliciously illustrated charmer will entrance sharp-eyed young readers with clever details and fun, tonguein- cheek humor.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 5, 2009

About the author

Dara Dokas has written three books for children. MURIEL'S RED SWEATER, Dutton 2009, is her most recent picture book. Dara is a former English and drama teacher who loves doing school, library and bookstore visits. She can be reached through her website: www.daradokas.com."

Reviews

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winner. And it's short!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muriel's sweater is coming undone! As she goes through town inviting her friends to her birthday party, her sweater unravels. And none of her friends point it out, I might add. Anyway, I read this to preschoolers and it worked just fine.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an inviting and clever story to share with others. If it is read in a large group, it is easy to follow the story and the unraveling of the sweater. If it is read one-to-one, clever illustrates are in the background of how other creatures are using the red sweater bits and pieces. It's a wonderful book of cause and effect with a party thrown in!

Theme: yarn
Additional themes: birthday, sweater

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book even though it has a knitters nightmare going on throughout. It is a simple story about inviting friends to a party and the evils of unwraveling knitwear. A lesson that should be learned young. Ages 3+

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough picture book with the "Rosie's Walk" gimmick of the character not knowing what is happening behind her--in this case her sweater unraveling and being used by her friends for all sorts of different purposes. Of course, the happy ending has all her friends giving her a NEW sweater.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you notice, as we did, that the sweater is shrinking and that Muriel's friends are finding uses for the yarn left behind, then it is fun to guess/predict what the next friend is going to do with the yarn. Cute story, nice pictures, predictable ending, a basic good book.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muriel has a sweet houseboat and I'm jealous.

[Tina B · Rating 3 out of 5]

"birthday, mystery, string"

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must remember this one for teaching prepositions to ESL kindergarteners.

[Joann Trupiano · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute little story with nice illustrations. My 4 yr old understood that Muriel's sweater was unraveling with every page, which have much enjoyment to all she passed by. A very sweet ending.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previewed for birthday storytime this week. It's cute and good for younger kids - only a few words per page.

[Kristin Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story to read when you have a birthday that week. There are only a handful of words on each page which is nice and the pictures tell most of the story.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe for young kids, but overall pretty boring story. Couple of words on each page with bright illustrations. Just mediocre.