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The Surprise
Sheep carefully charts the growth of his wool coat. When it's long enough, he rides his moped to buy some red dye and dyes his wool and shaves it off. Sheep puts on a sweater and takes the wool to Poodle, who spins it into yarn. Back at home, Sheep knits a beautiful red sweater as a surprise present for Giraffe
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 9, 2008
Wordless picture book
For toddlers-preschoolers
Through illustrations only, Sheep is shown turning her wool into a surprise for a friend.
As with many wordless picture books, this is a story that can be easily looked at alone by a pre-reader, or "read" aloud to practice narrative skills. Talking about the book as an early literacy tool makes it sound awfully dull, but this is really a fun, colorfully illustrated story about friendship, generosity, and the fiber arts. We see Sheep not only measuring, dying, and sheering her wool, but also running errands on her moped. A chic Poodle spins the wool and Sheep knits it into a gift for a friend. Although the animals are anthropomorphic, the story could also serve as a fun version the life cycle of wool.
Booklist's review is on target, pointing out the book's charms and uses. The School Library Journal review is a good blend of description and assessment of the book.
For toddlers-preschoolers
Through illustrations only, Sheep is shown turning her wool into a surprise for a friend.
As with many wordless picture books, this is a story that can be easily looked at alone by a pre-reader, or "read" aloud to practice narrative skills. Talking about the book as an early literacy tool makes it sound awfully dull, but this is really a fun, colorfully illustrated story about friendship, generosity, and the fiber arts. We see Sheep not only measuring, dying, and sheering her wool, but also running errands on her moped. A chic Poodle spins the wool and Sheep knits it into a gift for a friend. Although the animals are anthropomorphic, the story could also serve as a fun version the life cycle of wool.
Booklist's review is on target, pointing out the book's charms and uses. The School Library Journal review is a good blend of description and assessment of the book.
March 21, 2016
Anyone who likes fiber arts needs to check out this adorable book. The smoking poodle at the spinning wheel may not be the most suitable image for kids today, but she is the epitome of #lifegoals for me.
January 22, 2021
So charming and the illustrations gorgeous.
February 18, 2024
Een leuk woordloos boek over een schaap die iets heel leuks gaat doen met zijn wol! Ik heb enorm genoten van dit boek en omdat het woordloos was keek ik juist nog meer uit naar wat er op de volgende pagina zou staan! Het einde was echt zo zoet! En de illustraties vond ik erg leuk! Aanrader!
Read
November 6, 2015The cover illustration of a sheep on a motorbike is a little misleading, but when you open the book up to the title written in red yarn, you know this story is going somewhere crafty. The story develops as the sheep weighs himself, decides he’s gotten too bulky, and then decides to create a very special surprise for his friend. The pictures depict the sheep’s journey from fluffy to shorn, and the creation a lovely sweater for his giraffe friend. The process of going from sheep to sweater might mean some lengthy discussions and explanations for kids who may not be aware that clothes come from anywhere but the store, but the story itself is a charming one about friendship and creating something personal for someone you love. The illustrations are boldly colored, but sometimes there is not enough contrast between the background and the actual picture so it becomes difficult to see what’s going on. Overall, the story is a nice package and can be appreciated by anyone who has made a gift for someone special.
October 6, 2008
Take one sheep, one special friend and a top secret project.
This beautiful book, by Sylvia van Ommen, a Dutch author/illustrator tells the story without words. It's a theme played out over and over again in crafty blogland and when I saw the book, it made me want to cry. If you see it on a shelf near you, pick it up. You won't be sorry.
This beautiful book, by Sylvia van Ommen, a Dutch author/illustrator tells the story without words. It's a theme played out over and over again in crafty blogland and when I saw the book, it made me want to cry. If you see it on a shelf near you, pick it up. You won't be sorry.
October 23, 2012
It's a silent love story. Sheep drives to a dye store (there is a 2 for 1 sale!), goes home and dyes herself (two tones). She shears herself, spins it into yarn, and knits something. She packages it and drops it off at Giraffe - a perfectly knit fit looong necked sweater!
Beautiful pictures, no words, only feeling.
Beautiful pictures, no words, only feeling.
April 15, 2016
Where did the giraffe come from? In general, the ongoing thread in my mind was 'what is the sheep up to now' and it was fun just to follow that thread. But maybe some small hints about where it was all going would have worked well? All that suspense leading to a gift for an arbitrary giraffe felt strange.
October 5, 2011
This book might not be for everyone, but it certainly one for me. I love the movement in the illustrations, the quirkiness and the message. A real gem!
April 26, 2022
El libro La sorpresa nos cuenta la historia de una oveja a través de múltiples ilustraciones, las cuales nos permiten ir siguiendo todo lo que la oveja va haciendo. Esto es posible, ya que la secuencia narrativa presenta un ritmo consistente y adecuado, un ejemplo en el que podemos evidenciarlo, es cuando vemos a la oveja ir a comprar tintura para teñir su lana, luego se ve como esta realiza todo el proceso, desde que se tiñe hasta que se seca con el secador. También podemos decir que el libro es legible, porque presenta un contexto y muchos detalles que hacen que la historia sea muy clara. Además la secuencia narrativa es lógica, ya que principalmente responde a una causa y efecto, un ejemplo de esto es cuando la oveja va a la tienda a comprar tintura y se puede observar que primero ve todas las opciones posibles, luego escoge el color que quiere, lo va a pagar y luego se va a su casa.
En mi opinión, yo creo que el libro es de calidad, ya que a través de las ilustraciones podemos ir encontrando muchos detalles, como por ejemplo es evidente que a la oveja le gusta mucho el color rojo, ya que su toalla, murallas, moto, tintura, entre otros son todos de este color. Asimismo como dije anteriormente nos permite ir siguiendo el relato paso a paso, debido a que la secuencia de las imágenes es muy clara. También creo que el libro genera curiosidad, porque al lector le dan ganas de saber qué es lo que va a hacer la oveja con la lana que está tiñendo y que es lo que está tejiendo y para quién será el regalo que hizo con tanto amor.
En mi opinión, yo creo que el libro es de calidad, ya que a través de las ilustraciones podemos ir encontrando muchos detalles, como por ejemplo es evidente que a la oveja le gusta mucho el color rojo, ya que su toalla, murallas, moto, tintura, entre otros son todos de este color. Asimismo como dije anteriormente nos permite ir siguiendo el relato paso a paso, debido a que la secuencia de las imágenes es muy clara. También creo que el libro genera curiosidad, porque al lector le dan ganas de saber qué es lo que va a hacer la oveja con la lana que está tiñendo y que es lo que está tejiendo y para quién será el regalo que hizo con tanto amor.
April 22, 2021
Es un libro de calidad, tiene imágenes simple, una paleta de colores primarios, figuras representativas y orgánicas, está visto de una perspectiva frontal, los colores son opacos, la secuencia tiene coherencia, es una historia inesperada, presenta el valor de la amistad y está orientado a niños pequeños.
July 17, 2018
A wordless picture book perfect for toddlers. This book is about a sheep who decides hes gotten a little bulky and make his wool into a fabulous red sweater for his friend giraffe. through beautifully drawn illustrations we are taken on sheeps journey into making a surprise for his friend.
December 29, 2018
Hermoso libro ilustrado que nos muestra a una ovejita que quiere dar una sorpresa y después de varias tareas ¿Será capaz de darlo? Es bastante lindo y cortito, sin texto, dejándonos comprender todo sin necesidad de palabras.
December 1, 2017
This is a very beautiful album of friendship and kindness. For children and adults. I loved it!
November 24, 2017
Come può essere fuori commercio questo splendido silent book?
December 7, 2018
Hermoso!!
December 17, 2018
Sweet wordless story
January 15, 2019
Hermoso!!!
September 27, 2019
Sweet wordless book to convey friendship and generosity.
August 21, 2025
ilustraciones todas preciosaaaas
February 7, 2026
Tenía mucho tiempo que no leía un cuento y este fue muy lindo, con ilustraciones bellísimas.
Forma parte de los cuentos que debo de leer para mi club de lectura y no estoy decepcionada!!!
Forma parte de los cuentos que debo de leer para mi club de lectura y no estoy decepcionada!!!
July 23, 2021
Sonará obvio, pero además del lugar que tiene la sorpresa en la trama de este libro, leerlo cada vez es una sorpresa. Es el libro favorito de mi hijo y siempre nos da la posibilidad de sacarle algo nuevo. Muy bello.
May 8, 2008
Summary (CIP): A sheep knits his friend, a giraffe, a surprise gift of a sweater from his own wool.
REVIEW: This sweet wordless book by a Dutch author is a favorite of mine and illustrates the pleasure of giving. You are kept guessing till the end about what this sheep is doing as he measures his wool, dyes it (red, of course), shears it off, and zooms back and forth on his red vespa busily. The art is simple, yet very expressive, and lends itself to discussion and narrative skills such as anticipating and interpreting what the sheep is doing and why.
SLJ: Positive. "A fine addition for wordless-book collections."
Booklist: Positive. "A crisp story-in-pictures for prereaders, or for use with older children in writing exercises, this is especially suited as a way to practice process vocabulary words (first, next, then, finally, and so on)."
REVIEW: This sweet wordless book by a Dutch author is a favorite of mine and illustrates the pleasure of giving. You are kept guessing till the end about what this sheep is doing as he measures his wool, dyes it (red, of course), shears it off, and zooms back and forth on his red vespa busily. The art is simple, yet very expressive, and lends itself to discussion and narrative skills such as anticipating and interpreting what the sheep is doing and why.
SLJ: Positive. "A fine addition for wordless-book collections."
Booklist: Positive. "A crisp story-in-pictures for prereaders, or for use with older children in writing exercises, this is especially suited as a way to practice process vocabulary words (first, next, then, finally, and so on)."
October 3, 2008
the last page is so adorable, i actually squealed.
things of note besides this book being adorable. ...
the sheep is fixated on being overweight. no lie. it's mildly disturbing, and possibly a bad influence on impressionable children with developing body issues.
there's also a poodle working in a sweatshop AND smoking. which could be considered subversive, except that it's funny. (i'm embellishing about the sweatshop, the poodle is probably an independant craftsperson). do you think poodles smoke camels?
things of note besides this book being adorable. ...
the sheep is fixated on being overweight. no lie. it's mildly disturbing, and possibly a bad influence on impressionable children with developing body issues.
there's also a poodle working in a sweatshop AND smoking. which could be considered subversive, except that it's funny. (i'm embellishing about the sweatshop, the poodle is probably an independant craftsperson). do you think poodles smoke camels?
August 7, 2008
The illustrations are so lush and bright and sweet. Wow! This is a fantastic book. I hope Joey and Samuel will latch onto this concept of a story in illustrations and "read" independently with this book and others like it (like A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog).
April 20, 2010
A beautifully done wordless picture book about a sheep who uses her wool to knit a sweater for her friend. Vibrant pictures walk readers through shearing wool, dying, spinning, knitting, and gifting. Love it!
April 3, 2014
I'm usually not a fan of wordless picture books, but this one is delightful. Sheep dyes her own wool and shears herself so that she has a gift for a friend. The identity of that friend is a wonderful surprise.
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August 23, 2007Great picture book, her drawings are clever and interesting, with some quirky non-American humor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews