Too kind... (Three Bags Full - Ragnhild Scamell)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Three Bags Full - Ragnhild Scamell
Date:	22/05/07 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sweet story

Disadvantages: none

Three bags full

A lovely story about a very sweet character who is just too kind for her own good!

We start with the words, “Millie was very very kind”, and learn that the cute and fluffy sheep skipping about the meadow is so kind that she tries hard not to stand on the flowers.

One sunny morning, Millie is skipping about the field when a bird asks if she can have some of Millie’s wool for her nest. Of course, Millie says yes, and we see the bird tugging at the wool. The same happens when badger and rabbit ask for some wool for their nests- Millie is so accommodating that she rubs against a tree to loosen some of the wool.

Of course, very soon all of her wool is a distant memory, and although the other sheep tell her she looks like a goat, Millie feels light and free without her cumbersome wool.

Not so when night falls, a very forlorn looking Millie stares at the sky, feeling very cold as the snow falls. Everyone but Millie is warm, and although bird, badger and rabbit offer her a place to stay, she realises that she can’t fit into their homes. There is a sticky moment when a fox offers her a home for the night, because he “likes goats” but Millie realises she is not a goat, and runs to the farmhouse.

Mrs Farmer stands hands on hips and berates Millie for having given away the wool which she wanted to knit a jumper. Luckily, Mrs Farmer has some wool left over and while Millie lies at her feet, she spends the night knitting, until in the morning, she has finished a jumper for Millie. Children tend to like the jumper- it’s green with yellow flowers and red hearts, and when Millie dons this jumper, she is warm and cosy again.

There we leave her, looking snug and happy in the snow. However, bird comes along and spots a piece of loose wool. Bird decides that she could do with a piece of green wool, and of course, Millie says “Help yourself…”

Oh dear, even young children realise at this stage that as we close the book with bird tugging on the wool, Millie is going to give away all of her jumper and be left cold again!

~~Other bits of information~~

ISBN: 1857040201
Published: 1993
Price: I have seen it on amazon for around the £6 mark, so believe it may be out of print.

~~Other books by the same author~~

The Fat Cats
Jake and The Red Bird
Wish Come True
Solo
Wish Come True

A lesser known author I believe, but one whose books are appealing to young children.

~~What I think of the book~~

A really nice story, and one which appeals to young children.

The illustrations are big and bold, with the animals, people and buildings having very little detail on the actual figures, which means that young children can just take in and appreciate the general scene. Millie does look very cute, and children do feel sorry for her when she is running away from the fox, and when she is standing looking at the snow.

The text is written round and among the illustrations, and is mostly in speech form. Because the story tends to repeat itself, even young children will know what’s coming next, and will be anticipating Millie giving away first her wool then her jumper. The text itself is written in quite a large text form, so children who are gaining confidence with their reading will be able to have a go and read it to an adult, so increasing confidence.

I have read this to children as young as 4, and find children up to about 7 appreciate it. I try to emphasise the fact that it’s not meant to teach us not to be kind, because I think some children could read into it that we must not share because then we will be left cold- I love the literal thought processes.

Best thing is to read it as an enjoyable story and not read anything into it. Children will enjoy the story, the pictures and the characters.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela xx

Summary: Pleasant story for young children