The Three Little Mittens

Linda Bailey’s clever story about inclusion is, in my opinion, meant to be shared on a cold and wintry day, while curled up in a “fluffy and woolly and cozy and warm” spot, with a curious and imaginative child who enjoys an empowering story.

As the reader steps into the story, Dotty and Other Dotty, a pair of naughty pink mittens with yellow spots, tease an unmatched blue striped mitten about not having much of a use without a partner. The plot thickens when Other Dotty is left behind during a blueberry muffin incident. The Little Girl decides to wear both Dotty and Stripes to keep her hands warm, even though they don’t match. Dotty thinks that this is weird.

Out of the blue, Other Stripes enters the story with a sad tale of being dragged under the couch by the dog and left there for an entire month! The mittens continue to quibble about the importance of having a match until the “very BIG voice” of The Little Girl asks why the mittens must match. After some discussion, the mittens realize that there really is no reason and that, sadly, someone is always left out.

The story takes a turn for the better when a box full of lost mittens is revealed. The Little Girl decides to mix and match her mittens every day so that all the mittens can go out to play. The mittens are all very happy with their new-found freedom and are excited to play in the snow with their new friends.

Bailey’s sweet approach to the ongoing discussion of kindness and inclusivity is heartwarming and illustrates the differences amongst us that contribute to everyone’s joyful experiences.

The playful drawings of Natalia Shaloshvili dance across the pages of the storybook with a pastel palette of colour and joy. Her animated characters bring the words to life. The drawings are created in acrylic and watercolour pencil.