One Mitten
on Goodreads (425)
What’s inside...
What can you do with only one mitten? Use your imagination! Award-winning poet Kristine O’Connell George shows that the simplest object can be a springboard into playful exploration. Spare rhyming text and bright, lively illustrations celebrate a small child’s joyful discovery of many things she can do, be, and play with a single mitten. And when she finally finds the mitten’s missing mate, two mittens open up a whole new realm of possibilities. Once again, the creators of Book! look at the world through a young child’s eyes, revealing the fun that’s hidden in everyday things.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
31 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think you could do with just one mitten?
How did the girl in the story use her imagination with her mitten?
Can you think of other everyday items that could be used in fun and creative ways?
How did the girl feel when she found her other mitten at the end?
What would you do if you found something you lost that was important to you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to use their imagination by asking them to think of different uses for a single item in their room.
Discuss the feelings of the girl in the book when she lost and then found her mitten, relating it to a time your child might have felt something similar.
After reading, engage in a creative activity where you both create new uses for common household items, inspired by the story.
Use expressive questions that prompt your child to think deeply about the story and its themes, fostering a deeper understanding and connection.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and resourcefulness
Explanation: In 'One Mitten', the protagonist uses a single mitten in various imaginative ways, showcasing creativity.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to use their imagination to repurpose objects in their daily lives, enhancing problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Flexibility and adaptability
Explanation: The story demonstrates how the character adapts to having just one mitten by finding new uses for it rather than seeing it as a limitation.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to adjust to changes and make the best of unexpected situations in their own environments.
Example Lesson: Joy in simple things
Explanation: The pleasure the character finds in playing with one mitten reminds readers to find happiness in simple, everyday objects.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to appreciate and find joy in the small and simple aspects of their daily lives.
Example Lesson: Sharing
Explanation: The protagonist uses the mitten in ways that involve other people, implicitly promoting sharing.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied by encouraging children to share their own belongings to foster cooperative play and friendships.