THE SURPRISE

In this modest, wordless, tongue-in-cheek episode (available since 2004 with a Spanish title), a sheep knits a cozy gift from its own wool. Sporting realistic-looking fluffs, the simply drawn protagonist first primps before a mirror, carefully measuring the growing wool, then zooms to the store aboard a motor scooter for bright red dye. Having dyed the fleece and then clipped it off, the sheep has it spun into yarn by an elaborately groomed poodle (with—a European touch if ever there was one—a cigarette dangling from its lips), and sets to with the needles on a voluminous project. But what, and for whom? Both questions are answered at the end: It’s a sweater for a giraffe, who bends down its now-comfy-warm neck to bestow a kiss on the blushing ovine. A feel-good tale in any language, bright in both mood and color. (Picture book. 5-7)