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bickie's review against another edition
4.0
Use the story itself as a simple story about refugees/immigrants and how they have agency to make their new lives more palatable. Discuss the idea of conformity and how people like to express themselves; also, thinking "outside the box."
Older children can review the surrounding materials in the book and identify the symbolism in the story regarding communism; what other conditions do people experience in more authoritarian countries? Why is free education for all important? Why would governments want to restrict education in their citizens?
Backmatter includes a background of the formation of Amnesty International as well as the story of the actual family upon which the story is based, who moved to several different countries looking for freedom (this is not obvious in the main story).
Older children can review the surrounding materials in the book and identify the symbolism in the story regarding communism; what other conditions do people experience in more authoritarian countries? Why is free education for all important? Why would governments want to restrict education in their citizens?
Backmatter includes a background of the formation of Amnesty International as well as the story of the actual family upon which the story is based, who moved to several different countries looking for freedom (this is not obvious in the main story).
afro8921's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way the author makes integration a process of infusing some of your old life into your new life.
worldlibraries's review against another edition
5.0
What fascinating discovery one can experience reading the history behind Amnesty International from this children's book, to read a lesser known story about Porteguese fascism, and to experience what life was like in Communist Central Europe through this book. This book would pair beautifully with Peter Sis' The Wall for a historical study of life in communist countries, and also, the adult book written by Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning. This book contains an excellent example, ala Frankl, of how one can choose one's own attitude for how to deal with adversity.
It gives one hope doesn't it, to know that Amnesty International was essentially invented in 1961? In the span of human existance, it is just getting started.
This book belongs in every school library in the world because children do not get the chance to read about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enough. This book provides an opportunity.
It gives one hope doesn't it, to know that Amnesty International was essentially invented in 1961? In the span of human existance, it is just getting started.
This book belongs in every school library in the world because children do not get the chance to read about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enough. This book provides an opportunity.
emeelee's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I went into this book not knowing anything about it, but curious as to how 3 balls of wool "can change the world." I was surprised to learn a lot about Amnesty International and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which I had not known much about before. The story was a fairly deep analogy for the loss of personal freedom under communist regimes, with reference to the "Prague Spring." I feel like the metaphor will sail over most childrens' heads, but I enjoyed it. The illustrations left something to be desired for me, personally, but I think knitters will appreciate the pattern references.
I went into this book not knowing anything about it, but curious as to how 3 balls of wool "can change the world." I was surprised to learn a lot about Amnesty International and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which I had not known much about before. The story was a fairly deep analogy for the loss of personal freedom under communist regimes, with reference to the "Prague Spring." I feel like the metaphor will sail over most childrens' heads, but I enjoyed it. The illustrations left something to be desired for me, personally, but I think knitters will appreciate the pattern references.
agudenburr's review against another edition
4.0
A story about immigration and knitting. A great read aloud for older elementary children.
afro75's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way the author makes integration a process of infusing some of your old life into your new life.
elephant's review against another edition
4.0
This book is for older children - upper elementary through high school. The story of the wool sweaters is symbolic of the conformity demanded by communism.
bethmitcham's review
3.0
The story was great — I liked the voice of the child and the history as depicted by knitting colors. The educational text before and after muddle the message — apparently all the sweaters were burned a few pages after the end of the book.
tashrow's review
5.0
Published in partnership with Amnesty International, this picture book uses colors of wool to speak to the conformity required under Communist regimes. The book focuses on a family who flees their home country in the hopes of finding a better, kinder place to live. At first their new country is good. The children can go to school and the parents are less worried. But steadily things change and soon there are only three colors of sweaters for the children to wear. The mother of the family though, realizes that she can make a difference and sews the yarn from the different sweaters into new patterns that incorporate all three. Soon the new designs spread and things begin to change for the better. Cristina has written this picture book analogy from her own experiences as a child. There is a straightforward nature to the writing that allows the analogy to really work, giving it a strong foundation. The art is graphic and strong, leaping off of the page and yet also paying homage to Communist buildings and structures. This is a clever and intelligent book worth discussing in classrooms and families. Appropriate for ages 6-9.