Imagine the positive influence one person can have over a place if their intentions are pure. How much good can one person do when they seek to make the place they live in better and when they seek to do so one person at a time. This is exactly what Annabelle sets out to do when she finds what seems to be an ordinary box filled with ordinary yarn. Once Annabelle knits herself a sweater she finds there is extra yarn, she then knits Mars, her dog, a sweater, and from here the story takes off. Anna

Imagine the positive influence one person can have over a place if their intentions are pure. How much good can one person do when they seek to make the place they live in better and when they seek to do so one person at a time. This is exactly what Annabelle sets out to do when she finds what seems to be an ordinary box filled with ordinary yarn. Once Annabelle knits herself a sweater she finds there is extra yarn, she then knits Mars, her dog, a sweater, and from here the story takes off. Annabelle knits sweaters for Nate, her teacher, her classmates, the towns’ people, and the town all the while changing a gloomy, grey, glum atmosphere into one that is positive, bright, and very colorful. All this positive energy attracts the attention of the Archduke who promises Annabelle wealth and riches for the box; all of which she refuses. The Archduke, not used to being refused conspires to have the box at any cost.



Extra Yarn is the story of what can happen when one person decides they are going to effect positive change. This is the story of the positive influence one person regardless of age, position, or experience can cause when they set their mind and heart to a cause. In it the reader will see what happens to those who try to harm those whose intentions are good and pure. It is the story of how the good we do comes back to us in ways we can never imagine.



Mac Barnett’s simple text evokes a story that is thought provoking meaningful. Annabelle’s story will compel the reader to think about what he or she can do to make their world a better place. Through Annabelle, Barnett challenges the reader to think beyond their world and look towards those we touch on a daily basis to leave our places of work, home, and world better than we found it. Children and teachers will have much to discuss after reading this book.



Jon Klassen’s illustrations beautiful illustrations bring this story to life. The flat one-dimensional illustrations reveal the gloominess of Annabelle’s world before the knitting and the rich and colorful texture of the world after she has clothed the world in her sweaters. The artwork begs to be touched as we read the story. In looking at the pictures we can feel the grittiness of Annabelle’s world before the sweater and we want to wrap ourselves in the warmth of the global sweater when we are done. Not only is her world warmed and comforted by Annabelle’s talent but our hearts are as well. The images evoke that comfort that can only come from a well knit – hand knit sweater.



Readers will be very happy in this simple thought provoking story Barnett has created and the rich illustrations Klassen uses to illuminate the text.

