Grandma Needlethorpe knits a sweater for her granddaughter Nellie's role as a bumblebee in the upcoming spring concert. And the result is a huge success - even though the sleeves have to be rolled up and the sweater hangs well past Nellie's knees. A delighted Nellie can't wait to show it off to her school chums, but each time she wears the sweater, Nellie gets into a scrape. And after several trips to the washer and dryer, the rapidly shrinking sweater finally fits her perfectly. But Nellie must wear the sweater one more time before the concert. And one more sweater mishap proves to be the last straw. The bumblebee sweater comes out of the dryer much too small for Nellie. Now it's no good for anyone except the family dog.
But Nellie doesn't mind; she's going to wear a flower costume in the concert. Too bad there won't be a bumblebee on stage after all . . . or will there?
"This funny, true-to-life story with its detailed, softly-coloured pictures will delight young listeners and independent readers. Adults also will relate to Nellie's messes and to Grandma's failing eyesight.
Recommended."
— CM Magazine
"A story that finds humor in a grandmother's failing eyesight and her granddaughter's ability to get messy, Waterton's nineteenth children's book is a gentle tribute to good intentions, no matter how they turn out. . . Freewheeling, gently washed, line-and-watercolor illustrations complete this funny package."
— Booklist
"(Betty Waterton) will delight children again with this droll story, jauntily illustrated by the playful, prolific Kim LaFave. . . Story and pictures work together well, and the text's dry humour lends itself splendidly to reading aloud."
— Quill and Quire
Kim LaFave is a prolific picture book artist with many titles to his name, including Amos's Sweater, Ben Over Night, and Big Ben, which earned him the Mr. Christie's Book Award Silver Seal. He has also won the Governor General's Award, the Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award, and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. Kim lives on the west coast of Canada, in Robert's Creek, British Columbia.
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