The Story Blanket    by Ferida Wolff, Harriet May Savitz & Elena Odriozola Order:  USA  Can Andersen, 2008 (2008) Hardcover     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson The Story Blanket, by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz is a tale to warm the heart just as its storyteller's blanket warms the children who sit on it. The authors tell of a caring community, whose folk notice when help is needed, and give that aid without expectation of anything in return. Elena Odriozola's lovely and evocative illustrations fit the old country mood perfectly. It begins in a tiny village 'Deep in the snow-covered mountains' where Babba Zarrah lives and tells stories to children who sit on her 'big old story blanket' (drawn here as a rich quilt). Noticing folk in need around the village (and lacking wool) Babba Zarrah muses that 'Every question has an answer ... I just have to think of it.' Her solution requires unraveling a piece of her story blanket. Through the winter, with more and more people - and animals (I love the cat coat) - in need, that blanket shrinks down to nothing. And the villagers decide it's time to do something for their storyteller in return. Soon, she's able to tell a new 'tale about a village where everyone shared with each other.' Read The Story Blanket together in this season of giving. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews