FeedTimeless Thursday: The Mitten by Jan Brett
January 7, 2010 in Art activities, Books with Science Content, Books with Science Content, Brett Jan, Elementary Educators, Making Predictions, Picture Book, Polacco, Patricia, Preschool to 1st grade teachers, Sequence Practice, Timeless Thursdays Tags: Jan Brett, Patricia Polacco, The Mitten, Thunder Cake, Timeless Thursday
photo by >>>WonderMike<<< www.flickr.com
Today, in East Central Illinois, I am surrounded by snow and wind and chilly temperatures. So what’s a better Timeless Thursday book to remember today than The Mitten by Jan Brett? I remember when I was studying to be an elementary education teacher in the early 1990s, and everybody raved about Jan Brett–especially The Mitten. In one of my classes, we had to do a cross-curriculum unit on a book where we created activities in various subjects such as math, social studies, science, and reading. I did Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco, but one of my classmates did Jan Brett’s The Mitten. And I was smitten. 
One of the best things about this book is the art and the border around each page that Jan Brett has become famous for. Not only are her illustrations wonderful and something I could never imagine doing in a million years, the borders are clever and help readers predict which animals might enjoy the boy’s mitten next. For example, the text on one page is discussing how Nicki lost his mitten. The border is showing us mole tracks on one page and a mole on the next. Then the next page’s text is about the mole finding the mitten and resting inside.
This Timeless Thursday Jan Brett classic, which is 21 years old in 2010, can be used in the classroom in so many ways. Many art teachers use her border idea for art projects in elementary art lessons. Teachers use The Mitten to work on predicting or sequencing skills and read tales from other lands (this story comes from a Ukrainian tradition). Parents can share this wonderful book at bedtime, use it to develop an interest in knitting, and even to talk about responsibility with their children. I mean, how many of us have lost a mitten? I have! I should probably have mine tied to my winter coat as we speak.
The Mitten by Jan Brett is a great winter book to share with children at home or at school!
January 7th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
If you’re doing a look back at classic cooks please do something on P. Polacco. Love her stuff!
January 7th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
My son performed the mitten in nursery school. He was the hedgehog. Then in first-grade, they did an author study on Jan Brett. There’s something comforting and sweet about her books.
I’m certified to teach upper-grades, but I’m currently a sub. When I’m called to teach younger grades, I should bring, The Mitten along. Thanks for reminding me.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Hey Theresa,
I love the idea of doing THE MITTEN as a play. Teachers are so brilliant!
Margo
January 7th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
We really need to read that. I keep seeing it recommended and have never read it. Thanks for the reminder!
January 9th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Wow, talk about a blast from my childhood! I probably haven’t thought about this book in ten, twelve years. I wonder how difficult it will be to dig it out… Thank you for this post!
January 9th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
We love The Mitten. When my older daughter was 1.5, my aunt who teaches kindergarten gave us a boxed set with The Mitten, The Hat, and The Gingerbread Baby. That was my introduction to Jan Brett and I immediately became a fan. My daughter wants to learn to knit so an intro to knitting paired with the mitten would be a fun activity for us.
January 9th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Oh, I love The Mitten! As the librarian aunt, it’s my duty to buy books for my niece, and I just bought her this one and some other winter-themed children’s books for her first birthday. I remember my elementary school teacher mom doing a cool program with paper mittens with this book.
January 9th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I was thinking that too, Sarah, that when kids read this book, they might want to learn about knitting. I love the illustration at the end of this book when both mittens are held up and one is bigger than the other. Just really, really cute.
January 14th, 2010 at 12:54 am
We discovered The Mitten just 2 weeks ago. I found it in the library and now have had to order our own copy! I only wish I were a better knitter, so I could create some snow-white mittens for my kids
As it is, we have been playing with our plastic animals and stuffing them inside the various mittens we have!
January 14th, 2010 at 8:41 am
That’s awesome. I love how you and your kids are playing the book!
(Sort of goes with your blog. 
Margo