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Red Knit Cap Girl #3
Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree
This new adventure with Red Knit Cap Girl and her friends uses simple prose and radiant illustrations to shine a light on the joy of reading and the importance of working together.
One day Red Knit Cap Girl and her friends discover a hollow tree in the middle of the forest. What can be done with one ordinary tree? "I will keep my book in this nook so everyone can read it," Red Knit Cap Girl says.
But the tree isn't only for books. Little by little, one by one, the animals share their unique gifts and turn the ordinary tree into a special spot for everyone to enjoy!
One day Red Knit Cap Girl and her friends discover a hollow tree in the middle of the forest. What can be done with one ordinary tree? "I will keep my book in this nook so everyone can read it," Red Knit Cap Girl says.
But the tree isn't only for books. Little by little, one by one, the animals share their unique gifts and turn the ordinary tree into a special spot for everyone to enjoy!
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Naoko Stoop
21 books46 followersBrooklyn, New York based selftaught illustrator creating childhood images in her loft studio.
"I’m trying to bring out the five-year old in people through my artwork. Because I believe that is the last moment before children start learning how complicated the world is, and that was when I once stopped drawing. It took me decades to come back to myself. Now? Here I am drawing everyday! For more about my work, please visit my website. Thank you for looking. Grew up in Tokyo, Japan, Creating in Brooklyn, New York, I love Moomin Troll and Totoro!!"
"I’m trying to bring out the five-year old in people through my artwork. Because I believe that is the last moment before children start learning how complicated the world is, and that was when I once stopped drawing. It took me decades to come back to myself. Now? Here I am drawing everyday! For more about my work, please visit my website. Thank you for looking. Grew up in Tokyo, Japan, Creating in Brooklyn, New York, I love Moomin Troll and Totoro!!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 16, 2017
In my hometown, there's a walk down along the beach, and in the forest (where sometime we have seen an owl) someone has put little doors and things into the trees. One of these at least can be opened up and little treasures can be left there for kids to come and pick out. Upon one of my walks there, I found a little note that had been penned by a girl, asking the faerie-folk if they were really real and whether they could not leave her a note in reply, which is probably the best treasure I've found. This is what this book made me think about.
But back on topic... all-around, "The Reading Tree" is a lovely book. The plywood-based artwork provides fantastic texture on each page, which is already full of colour and just a touch of whimsy. Red Knit Cap Girl and her friends together build a woodsy library complete with all the right touches; but one little friend still needs to learn a little bit about sharing and community. It's a really nice book and (I think) a new favourite of mine and my daughter's.
But back on topic... all-around, "The Reading Tree" is a lovely book. The plywood-based artwork provides fantastic texture on each page, which is already full of colour and just a touch of whimsy. Red Knit Cap Girl and her friends together build a woodsy library complete with all the right touches; but one little friend still needs to learn a little bit about sharing and community. It's a really nice book and (I think) a new favourite of mine and my daughter's.
June 18, 2017
4.5 stars. Gorgeous illustrations by the author/illustrator! A very sweet story about helpful friends. More to follow...
July 2, 2015
Building a community and a library. Maybe beginning of year read aloud.
July 29, 2018
Isn’t this book sounds like a classic “Little Red Riding Hood”? Even their themes are very different they are both amazing books.
This book is a great way to make children love sharing, being an active member of the community, helping each other, and learning what a library is. Red knit cap girl’s and forest animals’ friendship is admirable. It is also a good way to learn about different animals and their traits. For example, the beaver builds a bookshelf and the sheep brings warm wool blankets. Children who love animals will love this cute story.
Illustrations of the book are great for a children’s book. They are simple but fun. Warm colors of the book make it suitable for a bedtime book. Cozy and sweet dreams!
Don’t forget to visit libraries, share books, and be an active member of your community.
This book is a great way to make children love sharing, being an active member of the community, helping each other, and learning what a library is. Red knit cap girl’s and forest animals’ friendship is admirable. It is also a good way to learn about different animals and their traits. For example, the beaver builds a bookshelf and the sheep brings warm wool blankets. Children who love animals will love this cute story.
Illustrations of the book are great for a children’s book. They are simple but fun. Warm colors of the book make it suitable for a bedtime book. Cozy and sweet dreams!
Don’t forget to visit libraries, share books, and be an active member of your community.
August 16, 2023
“It’s good to share books.”
October 31, 2025
Such a cute story. I love the wood canvas that Naoko uses to paint on. You can see the grain of the wood. I think it's pretty funny that fox is just stealing the books, even before the eventual reveal
August 15, 2017
Just wanted to give this little children's book a shout out really quick.....I found this at a tiny bookstore on the beach this weekend, and it became an instant favorite. The sweetest story about a girl who loves to read & her friends who help her come together to build a library in a "nook" in the woods. Also the illustrations are GORGEOUS. I bought a copy for my friends that have little ones & also a copy for myself.:) Recommend for all parents who love to read to their kids.
April 1, 2019
Ok it was fine but I got stuck on the first page. If it is a sweltering hot day, why is this poor girl wearing a red knit cap?
November 29, 2014
An engaging story, especially through the pictures. The Japanese style on the warm exposed plywood start in the telling from the cover onward. Have you ever found plywood warm and charming? I'm not sure I ever had until now.
Of course the recent emergence of the Little Free Library leaves so much room for the imagination to get carried away at the close of the book. It's hard to end any better than that.
Of course the recent emergence of the Little Free Library leaves so much room for the imagination to get carried away at the close of the book. It's hard to end any better than that.
February 8, 2015
I picked this one up because it had both "knit" and "reading" in the title, and I have to say I was let down. It's actually a perfectly fine story about a girl and her forest friends who end up creating a forest library, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had known a little more about it beforehand (like the fact that there was no knitting, but also that Red Knit Cap Girl is a character who has several other stories about her). My children seemed to enjoy it, but didn't ask for a lot of rereads.
September 18, 2016
"It is good to share books."
Red Knit Cap Girl and all the woodland creatures discover a nook in a tree and turn it into a library so that they can share their books with each. Even Sly Fox realizes he doesn't have to steal the books.
The feeling of community and sharing our love of reading and books ... isn't that what libraries are all about?
Red Knit Cap Girl and all the woodland creatures discover a nook in a tree and turn it into a library so that they can share their books with each. Even Sly Fox realizes he doesn't have to steal the books.
The feeling of community and sharing our love of reading and books ... isn't that what libraries are all about?
November 9, 2014
Beautiful, lively and bold. I just love Naoko Stoop. An extemely unique illustrator. The story is engaging and lovely.
January 7, 2015
This is my FAVORITE in the Red Knit Cap Girl series. Oh I loved it, loved it, loved it! Simple, cozy, adorable.
March 27, 2023
This addition to the Red Knit Cap Girl series was lovely. The girl created a community library with the help of all the little animals in the forest. They use an oak tree trunk to create a safe place for everyone to enjoy books. I think this is a sweet way to paint the picture of a library. It created a warm sense of community, contribution, and teamwork. The illustrations have a whimsical quality to them. There is a lot of color, and little details in nature that bring an authentic feel. The pages have a unique texture to them that make them look like wood. I thought that was really special and different! I love the message of this book, I think it is a good reminder of what love in a community looks like. This book is great for younger children who are learning what a library is.
September 10, 2017
Sweet story where a girl has befriended all the forest animals. One day the squirrel is excited to show her something. It is a nook in a tree. Red KNit Cap Girl has a great idea and slowly her and all the different forest friends turn this nook into a library. The main message, and the girl even states it, is that books are meant for sharing. Best for younger kids. She also has 2 other books that I know of.
October 2, 2019
This might just be my favourite Red Knit Cap Girl book!! As usual, the illustrations were charming and I was enchanted by every page. The story was sweet with an overall theme of helping friends and building a community. I was also chuffed by the group of animals including the Sly Fox despite the fox 'stealing' a book.
November 12, 2021
A lovely story about community and how books can bring people together. Also showing that not everyone has to contribute in the same way.
I loved the art; a very soft style of drawing. I also really liked that you could tell that the pictures were originally drawn on wood. Which really fits with the setting and feel of the story.
I loved the art; a very soft style of drawing. I also really liked that you could tell that the pictures were originally drawn on wood. Which really fits with the setting and feel of the story.
June 21, 2022
What are the books that feel like you? Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree is that kind of book for me.
From the beautiful illustrations, animals working together to bring surprises to every page, books, and a welcoming tree, my smile grows with every page. It gets better every time I read it.
What a bonus to have Squirrel start the grand idea. Thank you, Naoko Stoop!
From the beautiful illustrations, animals working together to bring surprises to every page, books, and a welcoming tree, my smile grows with every page. It gets better every time I read it.
What a bonus to have Squirrel start the grand idea. Thank you, Naoko Stoop!
October 15, 2018
Red knit cap girl is reading in the woods and soon finds a cozy place for her and her animal friends to read. What could they call this place? And who is stealing the books? Cute. Preschool and up
September 3, 2020
A little girl and her animal friends find a hollow tree and decide to make a reading nook. They make a shelve and knit blankets so they can all snuggle and read together. A great way to send students off for summer vacation in order to talk about reading outside.
April 28, 2023
This is a lovely, cozy tale about red knit cap girl and her animal friends. Everyone comes together to create a little library in a tree. Beautiful artwork was rendered using paper bags and wood as canvases.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 18, 2017
Sometimes a book just touches your soul. This was one of those for me.
One I need in my classroom, and one I will gift to others.
One I need in my classroom, and one I will gift to others.
November 24, 2017
I thought the illustrations in the book were amazing!!! We loved the story! I’m excited to get the next few to read.
February 16, 2018
Love this one the most so far! Adorable and beautiful illustrations and a cute story about friendship and sharing.
June 1, 2018
This is a delightful story of cooperation with all sorts of animal friends. I love the artwork as faint wood grains add to the pictures.
September 1, 2018
When a little girl and her animal friends find a hollow in a big tree, they decide to keep their book in it. Something wonderful develops from there.
November 14, 2018
So charming!
February 18, 2019
Beautiful children's story for book lovers and animal lovers. Stunning illustrations. Great colors. My 2 year old loved this book!
April 4, 2019
A very sweet story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews