From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2—Babba Zarrah, a caring and talented senior, lives in a tiny mountain village—perhaps in Russia. She has a large, colorful, knitted blanket upon which the children love to sit as they listen to her stories. Noticing that there are some in the snow-covered village who have needs that she can satisfy, she unravels a bit of wool from the blanket and knits, then secretly delivers warm socks for young Nikolai, who has a hole in his shoe; an extra-long scarf for the postman; and cozy mittens for the schoolmaster to wear when he fetches wood. Each new project leads to thoughts of another, until the story blanket has completely disappeared. Then, it is up to the curious villagers to discover who is creating the gifts and find a way to thank their elderly neighbor for her kindness. Odriozola's charming illustrations make this sweet tale of a close-knit community even more special. The bright colors and delicate patterns in the children's and Babba Zarrah's clothing and the story blanket stand out against stark white backgrounds. A fine brown line surrounds garments and objects, giving some pieces a paper-collage appearance. In contrast, the rounded, rosy-cheeked faces are drawn with the same thin lines and minimal features—tiny dots for eyes, small squiggles for noses, wee marks for mouths. From the spare wood floor and the children clustered in anticipation on the blanket under a potted indoor tree comes a warm invitation to enjoy this sweet story again and again.—
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"...charming illustrations make this sweet tale of a close-knit community even more special...enjoy this sweet story again and again." --School Library Journal
"...sweetly vivid..." --Booklist
"...a low-key discussion starter." --Kirkus
"The Story Blanket ranks among those exceptional picture books in which the story, illustrations, page layout, and design all come together to offer a phenomenal reading experience...a special volume to share with every picture-book lover you know." --Bloomsbury Review
"Storytellers and readers aloud will appreciate the text's graceful yet restrained language and children will enjoy the plot's cozy circularity..." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A story to spread warmth and cheer on the coldest nights." --Smithsonian Magazine Online
"Absolutely beautiful..." --Virginian Pilot
"Rosy-cheeked children and the bright folk art quilt suggest a timelessness to the story as well as the underlying message." --Library Media Connection
"Beautifully rendered in every way..." --Orlando Press-Register
