YAZZY’S AMAZING YARN
Illustrated by Emily Calimlim
“As a teacher, it’s refreshing to find a book that exposes children to an alternative art form. I’m inspired by Yazzy’s story, and I know my students will be, too.” — Deborah Horwitz, Art Teacher, The Emery/Weiner School, Houston, Texas.
My 6 year old has been begging me to crochet him random video game characters and I told him we had a deal if he helped me review Yazzy’s Amazing Yarn. He liked pointing out little details in the book – Yazzy keeps her yarn in woven baskets on a shelf like me and Yazzy’s mom reminds him of his “little” grandmother. When there were long strands of yarn running across the page, he would trace his finger along it and ask where it was going. He was thrilled to see all the places in the park that Yazzy and her friends yarn bombed. He didn’t understand why someone would be upset with the colorful creations. And when he saw what Yazzy had planned next, he asked if we could do something like that as well.
My son enjoyed this book and I did too! I’m a fan of the colorful illustrations and how they are bright but not psychedelic. I, too, loved the little details on the page. For example, the to-do list in Yazzy’s room that shows she prioritizes her schoolwork over her craft projects, the expressions on Kayla and Isabel’s faces when learning to knit for the first time (one looks overwhelmed while the other looks irritated), and the way the yarn winds its way through the other facets of her life while she immerses herself in her project for weeks.
The story is very nicely crafted and age appropriate for the target audience. I like how the author snuck in some alliterations and onomatopoeia, as well as a great lesson on sharing a skill with others. Instead of just making something for her friends, Yazzy suggests that they work on making something together, which is twice as fun! And it was a cherry on top that she had a gift for the grumpy groundskeeper. I had one note: I am curious how three little girls were able to yarn bomb the turtle in the middle of the fountain. That would be difficult for even an adult to accomplish.
I really like the layout of this book. The text is laid out around the illustrations, enhancing the visual experience. Neither part distracts from the other. The dust jacket matches the hardcover perfectly and gives a sneak peek to the beautiful layout within. There is a perfect balance of text, illustration, and white space.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with school-aged children. This would be a great anticipatory set for lessons such as yarn crafts, community building, and sharing hobbies. There’s a neat history on the origins of yarn bombing on the last page, and I’m proud to live in a community where something so great got its start.
Cathey Nickell is a busy author and elementary school speaker, having presented at more than seventy schools to date. Yazzy’s Amazing Yarn is her second children’s book about creativity and outside-the-box artistic endeavors. She is also the author of Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car, which was awarded first place by the Texas Association of Authors in the category of Children’s Picture Books-All Ages. Cathey lives with her husband, Kevin, in Houston, where they raised their four children.INSTAGRAM ✦ GOODREADS
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
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missusgonzo 
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this review– including your son’s reaction and commenting on the text and illustrations really tells readers what there is to love about this book. Thank you!