Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc. New York, 2000.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 0-7894-2637-4.
Farmer Brown's sheep desperately chase their recently sheared wool through the washing, combing, spinning, and dyeing processes. Noting their pathetic shivering, the farmer graciously knits them a closet full of colorful cardigan sweaters to wear until their wool grows back. Told in rhyme and detailed in watercolor, this story provides a lighthearted, educational romp through wool production.
A nice addition to a sheep-themed story hour with show and tell possibilities. If someone raises sheep, is a knitter, or has a spinning wheel, those elements may be drawn in. A possible craft might be to glue cotton balls on a sheep outline.
Narrative skills are developed in describing the sequence of wool processing. Vocabulary related to sheep farming is presented.
