Extra+Yarn



__**Bibliographical Data**__ Author: Mac Barnett Illustrated By: Jon Klassen ISBN-13:9780061953385 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Publication date:01/17/2012 Age Range:4 - 8 Years

__**Summary**__

//Extra Yarn// is a Caldecott Honor Book, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, and a New York Times bestseller. The story details a little girl, Annabelle, who finds a magical box filled with an endless amount of colored yarn. She uses the yarn to transform her black and white community into a mix of colors. The town gains notoriety, and eventually an Archduke visits. He offers to buy the magical box for one million dollars. Annabelle refuses his request, and subsequently denies his larger offers. During the night, the Archduke angrily hires thieves to rob Annabelle of the magical box. After he obtains it, he returns to his castle, and upon opening it, finds it empty. He throws it out the window, and curses Annabelle with a life of sadness. However, the box returns to Annabelle and she remains happy in her new, colorful town.

__**Review**__ //Extra Yarn// is a wonderful children's book that exemplifies the theme of individuality. It portrays how one little girl, Annabelle, can positively change her entire town. This inspiring theme will allow young students to see the potential that each individual possesses to influence others. In addition, it incorporates themes of family, friendship, and charity which are important values in a young student's life. The illustrations support the overall theme of the story, and add a fun element to it. This book would be a great addition into any classroom's curriculum, as well as for at-home reading. Student's can apply the themes of this book to many aspect's in their lives, while teachers can make use of it's plot for critical analysis. Overall, this book is a well-written, well-rounded, and well-illustrated modern fairy tale for young students.

__**Author Biography**__ Mac Barnett is a New York Times bestselling author of over eighteen children's books. //Extra Yarn// is a Caldecott Honor Book, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner and a New York Times bestseller. He is an American writer and currently resides in Berkley,California. Some of his other famous works include the //Brixton Brothers// series of mystery novels and //The Terrible Two// series. Jon Klassen is an award winning illustrator of children's books. He won the Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal for children's book illustration for //This is Not My Hat.//

An important literary element that is used within //Extra Yarn// are the illustrations. They support the themes of individuality and change that are the focal points of the story. Specifically, the authors use a contrast between colored pictures and solely black/white pictures to showcase this change that the main character brings about. In addition they showcase the underlying themes of family, friendship, and charity that the story depicts. The various people, animals, and things in the town are depicted with the main character's colored yarn. This allows young students to visibly see the important themes that are being discussed. Furthermore, the illustrations will enable young students to make critical insights, and connections, within their classroom and in their lives. They can use the illustrations to compare the differences between Annabelle and the Archduke, or the town before and after the magical colored yarn, and then think about what this change could represent. Finally, they are drawn in a child friendly manner and use a contrast of colors and black/white, all of which strengthens the quality of this book.
 * __Analysis of Literary Element__**