Review Detail

Jan Brett brings her signature style to another Christmas tale, featuring adventurous Theo, his knitting Yiayia, and his pug Ari, who is not a fan of knitted sweaters, even ones from Yiayia. Determined to prove to Ari that a warm sweater is perfect for winter, Theo heads out with the dog and his new snowshoes, but a growing snowstorm brings more adventure than either of them expected.

When I was growing up, Brett's books were a holiday staple, emerging from the special shelf with tales of snowbound lands, inquisitive critters, and often, a small mistake that turned out for the better. The Christmas Sweater struck me as reminiscent of The Mitten, with a homemade piece of knitting is the star of the show, as Ari's sweater catches on a branch and begins to unravel, unbeknownst to Theo until it is much too late. Or, just in time, as that red string becomes the pair's path home through the thick snow, and they return home to discover what has become of the rest of the sweater.

One thing that stood out to me about the writing style is how it's told in first person, which feels different from previous books (although I don't pretend to be an expert, just a fan).

Expect chilly snow, the warmth of human touch, illustrations full of animals and expressions to discover and love, and a story of how the perfect moment can come from imperfections.