It’s Friday, so here’s my choice for Perfect Picture Book Fridays:
Smitten: A lint-free love story
Written and Illustrated by David Gordon
Based on an original concept by Susan Siegel
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007
Fiction
Suitable for ages: 2 and up
Themes/Topics: Love, Friendship
Opening Line:
One cold afternoon, a mitten sat atop a fence post.
“Sir!” Mitten called out.
A man bustled by with a basket overflowing with laundry.
Synopsis from Amazon: Sock and Mitten are both lost singles in a city full of pairs. Mitten is a left without her right. Sock is neither left nor right, but he knows how she feels. They set off on an adventure to find their other halves. But what they find instead is something much, much better: each other.
Link to resources: Match socks and mittens from the laundry. Any matching game would also work. Here’s a matching printable from the Happy and Blessed Home. Mitten also talks about being a left, so any left or right activities will go with this book.
Why I like this book: I found this book in the 12 x 12 Facebook group. Writers often ask for comparable titles or books on specific topics. Smitten was mentioned. My library didn’t have it, so I searched Amazon. I rescued this book for a penny (well, you know $3.99 shipping too). We read this and I’ve been delighted by his enthusiasm for this pair. There’s adventure and a whole lot of friendship in this book.
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday selections, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.
I also need three volunteers to join me in this PiBoIdMo Blog Hop. I was late in posting this, so if you want to answer four questions let me know and I’ll tag you in the post.
This is a perfect example during PiBoIdMo. No idea is too wacky. Great resources too. Thanks!
True that no idea is wacky – in fact, it can be cute.
The subtitle: “A lint-free love story” sold me.
Adorable!
Smitten is adorable!
Yup, I love the subtitle, too. I keep seeing praises about this book, so I have to get my hands on a copy.
I think you’ll be Smitten Joanna.
Very cute, Stacy! It reminds me of a bugs bunny episode the other day where daffy duck was running through a million calls of friends who couldn’t go on holiday with him and he was ignoring the pig who was saying he could go.
Yes. Sock was right there. Mitten too.
The PiBoIdMo post about titles was right-I love this and would have picked it up. And how nice that you found this copy.
While doing this post, there are several new copies available. Shrinking picture book budget leads to rescues like this one. 🙂
Love the title of this book, Stacy. What a cute concept. Maybe it will inspire me to think of one similar for PiBoIdMo!
Apparently, there aren’t a lot of “love” stories Jarm. Go for it!
A very clever and cute book! I love the idea of pairing too unlikely objects and the friendship that follows.
It’s a fun friendship. Lots of adventure in the big city too!
So clever. “Smitten” for sock and mitten. And about being unique (left or right) or maybe it doesn’t matter (sock is sock). There is something profound here at a philosophical level. Or maybe it’s me pontificating again. I like the matching for pairs as activity for little kids. Thanks for featuring this book. It added fun to my day. TGIF.
Hope you had a fun Friday Sue. It is a fun book.
This sounds sooo cute!
It is and Enzo loves it.
Stayed tuned for the sequel…STATIC: a shocking tale of friendship
😀
Oh I love that Cathy. Maybe you need to contact David Gordon and perhaps you would get a credit on the next book. 🙂
Cute! I like the title! I must get this! 😀
It’s a fun one Erik.
I love that you ‘rescued’ this book, Stacy! Just to let you know, that’s how I got into trouble and wound up with 350 boxes to pack…most of them books.:) 🙂 Seriously though, I totally feel like I am saving books from extinction when I go to the library’s Friends section or purchase used books on Amazon for…yes…1 penny.
Very cute premise and great review! I’ll have to see if I can find a copy.
Yes. It’s easy to rescue the books. The stories end up rescuing us most days though. 🙂
awww….so cute! Love the illustrations and the cuddliness!
Lots of cuddliness here in this book.
I agree this is perfect for PiBoIdMo! Too funny. I love the way ideas that seem kooky at first can turn into great stories. Nice pick.
Yes. It’s a great example of how ideas “kooky” and all can turn into great stories.
OMG! This looks SO cute 🙂 I think it’s a love story told over and over again in my laundry 🙂 Thanks so much for adding this one to our list!