Blackberry Booties [Hardcover]

Tricia Gardella (Author), Glo Coalson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

Mikki Jo is able to trade the blackberries she picks for what she needs to make a special present for her baby cousin.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-"One, two, three in the bucket. One in the mouth," is the familiar refrain as Mikki Jo picks blackberries and tries to decide what she can give her new baby cousin. This is a standard story about getting help from neighbors in exchange for berries, but with an unusual ending. Mikki Jo trades her berries for sheep's wool from Mrs. Lozano and then asks Mrs. Washington to spin it into yarn for a bucket of her picked goodies. Finally, Mrs. Nelson knits the yarn into booties in exchange for blackberries for her ice cream. In the end, Mikki Jo personalizes her gift by dunking the yellow booties into a bowl of mashed blackberries to make them the perfect shade of purple for Samuel. Softly illustrated in lavender tones of watercolor, the pictures capture the essence of summer with a young girl enjoying the outdoors, scampering across logs and streams with her pet dog. A quiet story told with gentle humor.
Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Creative problem solving is the theme of this warmhearted exploration of how, by noticing what's around her, a little girl sidesteps a series of obstacles to reach her goal. It's blackberry season, and Mikki Jo works hard every day to fill pails with the fruit. As she works, she thinks of her newborn cousin, Samuel, and the gift she wishes she could give him at the upcoming family reunion. Mikki Jo is able to translate her hard work into booties for Samuel by bartering the berries to a woman who gives her some wool, to another who spins the wool, and to a third who knits the wool into booties. Mikki Jo provides the blackberry color herself. Coalson's soft watercolor illustrations provide a reassuring glow to a story that teaches valuable lessons about hard work and perseverance. Connie Fletcher

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531301842
• ISBN-13: 978-0531301845
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,577,226 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun with Mikki Jo, July 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Blackberry Booties (Hardcover)

This is the delightful story of a young girl who needs a gift for her baby cousin. Her only talent seems to be picking buckets of blackberries. She realizes that she can trade her blackberries with a friends who give her wool, spin the wool, and knit the wool into booties. But that's not really a gift she made until she dyes them with blackberries and has the perfect baby gift. The soft watercolor illustrations are the perfect companion to the text.