Knitting for Dogs

by Laurel Molk

A funny and creative look at how to turn a problem into a solution.

Max is a big dog who lives with Izzy, a medium-sized girl, who has big ideas. Izzy can build anything—a birdhouse, a wooden swing, a tent, and even a catapult that really works. So when Izzy takes up knitting, she expects to be able to knit anything. But trying to make a sweater seems impossible.

While scarves and hats knit up quickly, her sweaters always come out too big, too small, or with too many mistakes. As Izzy’s knitting nightmares pile up, it takes a trip with Max to the dog park to figure out what she can do with them. Maybe these aren’t mistakes after all!

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Animals, Knitting, Childrens, Fiction, Growth Mindset

40 pages, Library Binding

Published November 29, 2022

About the author

Laurel Molk has written and illustrated several books for children, including Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo, and FLO! and When You Were Just a Heartbeat. She lives near Boston.

Reviews

[Roxana Rathbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute but I can't get over how she just cut the sleeves off. You can't do that in knitting! The whole thing would unravel!

I know I am being ridiculous but it's pushing my verisimilitude for this book.

[Aneesa]

I like the part where she explains to the dog that failure is part of the creative process, instead of to the reader.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super cute book. The illustrations were small at times so it would make a good one-on-one story.

[J MaK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for kids and adults alike (knitters and non). Heartwarming depiction of perseverance while learning something new.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a how-to book but a children's story about a girl and her dog and the frustrations and joys of creativity. The main dog seems to be a pitty mix and is drawn perfectly.

[Eli Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

charming, encouraging of reframing and dog themed, 10/10

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with a dog. Need I say more?

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

With its softly-colored illustrations created with watercolor, pen and ink, and Photoshop, all set against plentiful white space, this picture book is a 3.5 for me. It sounds several notes clearly that make it appeal to me: 1. It features dogs and a girl with a strong bond with her dog. 2. It describes an experience that will be familiar to many of us who have special talents in certain areas but fail miserably in one or two, making failure a baffling time. In this picture book, Izzy is clearly a whiz at making things. She's clever, creative, and an excellent problem solver. But after completing several simple projects, knitting a sweater frustrates her. The proportions are all wrong, and even though she tries making a sweater that fits several time, she has no luck. The artwork shows just how frustrated Izzy is. But that frustration doesn't last very long since she makes adjustments on her last sweater, cutting it so that Max can wear it when they go outside in the cold. Max loves the warmth, but when Izzy realizes that some of the other dogs are cold, she decides to do something about it. She may never be able to get a sweater that is just right for her, but there will be several warm and comfortable dogs, thanks to Izzy. Young readers will appreciate her positive attitude, too, since she is adept at making adjustments when her original plans don't pan out. The book's title is perfect for its contents, prompting readers to wonder how exactly someone might knit for dogs or write a book about how to teach dogs to knit.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izzy likes to make things, so when she started knitting it was easy - she made a scarf, and a hat, but when she tried to make a sweater, it just wasn't right. She practiced on 2 more sweaters, but they too were full of mistakes. But one snowy day, with just a few alterations, Izzy was able to make one of the sweaters into a sweater for Max! But what happens when the other dogs at the park see Max in his sweater?

I am so picky about illustrations of people knitting - and I'm happy to say Molk got it right! Even casting on (I could tell what method she was using). Knitting techniques aside, a great story of resiliency and growth mindset. Even includes an easy scarf pattern. AJ loved the story - she wanted to learn to knit so she can make something for her dogs, too.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Erin]

I really liked the way this story dealt with success, creativity, and failure. Izzy is one of those kids who just succeeds. She has great ideas, she works hard, and she creates amazing things. But then she tries knitting. And while she found that the hats and scarves came pretty easy, she gets stuck on the sweaters. And she's not used to failure.

And then, she CUTS THEM UP. And somehow manages to magically sew them into glorious dog sweaters. And it was here that I practically side-eyed my ear off. If I cut up a hand-knit sweater, it would unravel in my hands; there would be no opportunity to craft something new.

So five out of five for being persistent and gritty and coming up with another plan. And for holding the knitting needles correctly. But the departure from knitting reality was too much disbelief to suspend and I about choked.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

With messages like 'Failure is part of learning', 'Sometimes mistakes become new ideas', and 'Try, try again', this clever story of Izzy and her new hobby, knitting, and her dog Max offers fun pre-K read aloud material. Izzy takes up knitting and tries to knit herself a sweater, but try as she might she can't seem to make one that fits well. With a pile of 'misfits' (This knitter wonders why she didn't unravel, like most knitters do with mistakes), she eventually comes up with a great idea to snip and stitch (neither of which are possible for knitting as it would unravel, but suspend disbelief and read on) and fit Max with a sweater. When they walk in a winter storm, they see many cold pups and Izzy creates a wardrobe of sweaters for the neighborhood dogs. Soft pastel illustrations highlight this gentle story.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need STEAM focused picture books, consider this one. This book is about building/creating and the choices of the main character allows for a discussion I often have with students when we learn coding. Resilience is a necessary quality for those who build or create in any way. Debugging is the process of improving on code that does not achieve the goal intended. I can discuss both with this story. (I am also a dog rescuer and have many students excited about helping dogs in much the way the character in this book helps neighborhood dogs in this story.)

I needed this book this week. I just learned a treasured coworker is retiring. This will be bought in her honor of her retirement. For me and my students, this book could not have been more perfect!

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author illustrator Laurel Molk tells a great story of perseverance in her picture book Knitting for Dogs. Izzy has had success do a number of things but when she takes up knitting, she finds frustration trying to make a sweater for herself. She continues her efforts even after continued failure never giving up. She does find a way to make her failures into a success when her less than perfect human sweaters seem to be perfect to keep her dog Max and his friends warm. It's a great tale of thinking outside the box when easy success seems to elude you. Molk's illustrations capture the moments well.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable art and the relationship between Izzy and Max is precious. I liked the overall message of not giving up even when something is difficult, but where I got lost is in the transition to solving the problem. Anyone who has knit before knows you can't just cut through the knitted fabric and sew it back together without more difficulty than the knitting itself. Also, Max seemed satisfied with his own solution, and then Izzy took it away to solve what she saw was the problem. Then there was an ending tacked on, which...

SPOILER ALERT: was to knit sweaters (but for dogs). Wasn't not being able to knit a sweater the problem in the first place?

[Kelly]

This book makes me laugh. It's about a girl who thinks knitting is easy, and maybe for some things it is, but to make herself a sweater, it is not. So she takes the sweaters she knits and gives them to dogs. At first I was like, mm, that's still not realistic that they'd fit a dog, but if she brings six sweaters to the dog park and fits one to each dog, ok. It's not like she's knitting a sweater for a particular dog because that would have the same problems as her trying to knit herself a sweater.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session. . . .a charming picture book, this, Knitting for Dogs. . .

Izzy and Max have a mutual commitment of encouragement, support and assistance. No matter what. Victory or defeat, outcome off-piste or on, ground gained or lost, value scale disregarded. Showing up, lending a hand (or paw), sympathies deployed and offered, praise, advice and encouragement showered. . . that's what kind of commitment these two have.

So when Izzy's Big Ideas lean toward handicrafts of a knitting kind, Max is there for her. Support, nudges, extra hands (paws), stints at modeling, and comforting snuggles are provided aplenty as she teaches herself to knit, in all ways, and success, of a sort, is theirs.

And, that, after all, is really all we need. Success, of a sort.

5 stars: K2, P3

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful story about the creative process! With Max’s help, Izzy learns how to deal with failure as she figures out how to transform her many flops into useful objects for others. Well-crafted illustrations depict Izzy’s learning process in realistic ways that invite readers and listeners into the story. The heartwarming tale and full-panel artwork make this book an ideal choice for story time with universal appeal for children and adults alike. Endpages include easy-to-follow instructions for knitting a simple scarf. Bravo!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book! I loved the combo of dogs and knitting, both subjects that are dear to my heart. Laurel Molk manages to include so many ideas into the story, creativity, perseverance, problem solving, invention, caring for others... It is a book that a parent can find endless things to discuss. And there is even an unexpected twist. The book has enough complexity in the written word and in the illustrations to be worthy of purchasing and reading many many times! A great book!

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story with lovely watercolor illustrations, a little on the long side for younger kids. Like a previous poster had mentioned, I too was slightly annoyed that the girl just cut the sleeves off of sweaters she knit, that is not how that works. I was happy though to see they illustrated the girl holding the needles the correct way, and not upside down which is so common in picture books.

[Diana Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story about a girl who loves making things, and has success with most of her projects - except knitting sweaters. She learns that with a snip here and there, her sweaters become excellent sweaters for all the dogs in the dog park!

On a list of books relating to fiber arts/clothing that I was reviewing for potential storytime inclusion. Although the story is cute and the pictures very nice, it's a bit wordy for what I like for storytime books.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story about a girl, Izzy, and her faithful companion dog Max. She's a crafter after my own heart! After some failed attempts at knitting she discovers her creations are good for something after all. All this with Max's help.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Girl with a sweet, attentive dog. She can build things and decides to take up knitting. Successfully makes a scarf but meetings with multiple failures and disappointment trying to make a sweater for herself. Her dog Max is with her throughout.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A girl attempts to knit a sweater for herself. Over. And over. And over. And when it doesn't work, she cuts them up and gives them to dogs at the local dog park. I liked the illustration style, but I was not engaged by the story.

[Debbie Carron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book aloud to my 2- and 4-year old grandchildren. Such a cute story about determination, perseverance, self-confidence, and problem-solving! The illustrations captured both children's attention as did the story, with a fun little twist at the end.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about creativity and perseverance and thinking outside the box

[Elizabeth Fensin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! The only part which bothered me was everyone giving Izzy yarn because they wanted her to knit for their dogs. I hope Izzy made sure she was paid for her knitting time.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the same problem with sweaters ;-) Maybe I need a dog!

Fun story!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Bethany!

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Kaprisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was really good and cute made me want to get back to knitting with my dogs