Picture Book Pair for Sweater Season
Discussion and activity ideas for two books involving cozy sweaters
Picture book pair posts are about showing how books with similar themes can open up a world of discussion possibilities, and those discussions are great ways to connect with your children or students. It can be fascinating to see how different authors and illustrators approach different topics and themes. Pairing books with similar themes during story time will help children learn that everyone sees and experiences the world a little differently, and it's good to see other people's perspectives.
Happy Autumn! It’s the season of pumpkin picking, applesauce making, leaves crunching, and…sweater wearing. That’s right. It’s sweater weather! The temperatures are dropping, and we are getting close to snow falling. Maybe you already have snow! Whatever your weather, it’s certainly time to slip on a sweater.
Wearing sweaters to keep warm has been happening for centuries. According to britanica.com, sweaters were invented in the 15th century on the English Channel Islands. Fishermen in Ireland and Scotland followed suite. Early sweaters were made from thick, heavy wool. They often featured intricate patterns and were treated with oil to help make them water resistant on the high seas. In the 1890s sweaters were adopted by athletes in the United States, which is where they were first called sweaters.
In our book pairing, we have two books involving sweaters.
Read:
Sweater Weather by Matt Phelan is a simple book about bears in sweaters! When Papa Bear asks his bear cubs to put on their sweaters and get ready to go outside, the little bears take so long that by the time they go outside, it’s dark. Yet the night sky has a surprise for them! Kids will giggle at the baby bears’ attempts at getting dressed. This book is also a great choice for emerging readers!
Playing Through the Seasons: Crunchy Leaves, Cozy Sweaters by Essie Bell and illustrated by Anastasia Pronina is a rhyming book that depicts a father and son, donning sweaters, as they experience the fall season and all its fun activities, such as the pumpkin patch and picking apples. Kids will get excited about their own fall activities as they follow this father and son duo!
Discuss:
Sweaters are mentioned in the title of Crunchy Leaves, Cozy Sweaters, but it isn’t in the text. Where do you see sweaters in this book?
What happened with the little bears in Sweater Weather that slowed them down?
What do you notice in the illustrations of these books that indicate the temperatures are cooler?
Do you like sweater weather? Has it started where you live?
What are your favorite sweater weather activities?
Do:
Pick out your favorite sweater (or sweatshirt) to wear when you head outside in colder temps. What does it look like?
Design your own sweater pattern. Use the template below to create your design. You can use crayons, markers, yarn, or fabric or paper strips.
Go outside and enjoy your sweater weather!!
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