Woah, it’s cold. Like, wearing-woolly-hats-inside-the-house-all-day cold. The Stoic Spouse is sporting headgear that makes him look like a burglar, but he refuses to be photographed for the blog.
Anyway, who’s in the mood for a giveaway to brighten up a dull grey-brown day? Do I see a hand raised at the back, there? (It’s hard to tell through all this mist and drizzle.) Yes? So let me tell you about a children’s book that’s just this minute been published by Bloomsbury. Look! It’s called Stanley The Amazing Knitting Cat, and it’s by Emily MacKenzie.
Now Stanley is an unusual cat. He’s nothing like your cat who claws your qiviut shawl and hides your merino behind the fridge. No, Stanley has overcome his lack of opposable thumbs in order to become a knitter.
Fortunately he has many animal friends to whom he gives his completed hats and scarves and tail-warmers.
As well as reading about Stanley, you can knit Stanley, or a rather splendidly cool Stanley hat. The patterns are right HERE. But back to the book. I won’t spoil the story by revealing what happens to Stanley, but suffice to say that he faces his biggest knitting challenge yet, and it’s going to take all of his yarny resources to succeed.
In the interests of science, I road-tested this book with the twinnage (aged five). These boys do not do tact, so I’m fairly sure that we can trust the genuineness of their responses. They were both enchanted by the tale, and having spent most of their lives surrounded by knitting, they especially loved the images of tangled yarn. Not that they’ve ever had to witness their mother cursing a stubbornly knotted ball of fluff, oh no… The twinnage are probably towards the upper end of the age spectrum that will appreciate this book, so I’d estimate its appeal as from roughly 2-6 years old. The illustrations are witty and original and cheerfully colourful.
Information about the book can be found on the Bloomsbury site HERE.
So let’s skip to the giveaway, shall we?
C’mon, even if you haven’t got children, you must know some children, yes? Don’t you think that they’d rather like this story?
Here’s the deal. (It’s a good’un.) Bloomsbury is kindly offering FIVE lucky readers of this blog from anywhere in the world the chance to win a copy of Stanley The Amazing Knitting Cat. To enter, leave a comment at the bottom of this post. To gain an additional entry, hop, skip and jump over to TheTwistedYarn’s Facebook page, make sure that you’ve ‘liked’ the overall page, and leave a comment on the relevant post there (including some means of contacting you, e.g. Ravelry name or email address). Feel free to share details of this giveaway with friends on social media: the more, the merrier!
The competition is open from now until 12.00 midday GMT on Friday 5th February, and is open worldwide. The five winners will then be chosen using an online random number generator, and asked to provide their postal addresses so that the prizes can be sent out. The prizes will be sent directly by Bloomsbury, so I will pass the winners’ details on to them so that this can occur. All OK?
Oh, and only one prize per winner. So if anyone wins via Facebook AND this blog post, only one prize will be sent to that person, and another winner will be randomly selected.
Best o’luck to you, and if you’re not one of the winners, you can always buy a copy from your friendly neighbourhood bookshop, or of course from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
My girls are both yarn and reading obsessed so would love a copy of this new book! Fab giveaway, thank you. x
Me me me!! Looks like a book Arthur and I should DEFINITELY be reading together! 🙂
What a Purrrrfect story ?
Would love to win a copy for my granddaughter!
Of course Stanley can knit! That’s a very big cat secret! I would really like to read about Stanley and his adventures.
Lovely book!
It looks a wonderfully charming book. I love the yarny illustrations. I would love a copy for little Bear. X
My almost 4 year old would love a copy. Can never have too many books, especially books about knitting.
Our girl would love the book I am sure – she adores cats, and longs for the day when Mummy can knit properly and make her a whole family of Clangers. Please enter us into the giveaway! x
I live in Turkey and I help young children with their English. I would love a copy to read with them.
This book looks amazing!! I’d love to have a copy to read to all my nieces. I’m the very lucky aunt of 5! 🙂
Oh fabulous! I know young knitty children that would love to meet this crafty cat!
That book looks sweet!
It looks like a lovely book and it’s a great idea to introduce children to the fun of knitting from an early age.
I would love love love a copy of this book for my kids!
Awesome way to start them out loving yarn!
Oh. My. Word! This is too wonderful. Who needs kids? I want this for me!
I still have 6 kids at home who are very accustomed to seeing tangled yarn around the house. I’m sure my 4 y.o. would love it!
Fabulous – looks like a ripping yarn (with apologies in advance for that …!)
Sounds like a fun tangly tale!
Wah sounds great
What an adorable book. Yes! Please add me to the list of potential winners!! Going to Facebook now.
Nicolaknits on ravelry
Nicolaknits.com (blog)
How delightful! As a cat owning knitter (I know, who would have thought!) with distant grandchildren, I’d love to send this to them as a reminder of me.
Oh Stanley, Stanley, let me take you home ❤️
I would love to win this book for Finn and Lydia.
My granddaughter would love this story, she has 2 cats and two grannies who knit!
would love to win this book, fingers crossed
Oh how much fun this book is! Thank you for giving away 5 copies of this book.
I knit, I have children, I love cats – but my husband is allergic so I don’t own one. But I *could*, I could own a knitting cat!
My husband also says he’s allergic to knitting…
Essie3 on Rav!
I would love to win this book, I have a cat named Stanley! Plus I have 2 great nieces that love books & stories but most of all treasure the sweet stuffies their Aunty Mam makes them for special occasions.
I took up knitting last year during my daughter’s pregnancy. Every grandma should be able to knit her baby a sweater (jumper) I thought. Many sweaters, hats, blankets, scarves, and shawls later I realized I have a true obsession. I would love to give this book to the granddaughter who inspired me to start.
Thanks for the chance to win this book, perfect for a knitting Nana and her granddaughter. Shall certainly have a look out for it.
The book looks delightful!
NanaMamah on Rav
My grandchildren are intrigued by knitting and I love reading books to them. Stanley looks a real winner! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for the chance of winning this book. Would be a great addition to our collection of books for children.
Ahh, this book looks awesome!
Would love a copy. It looks like fun.
Looks like a great addition to a household with knitters and cats! Thanks for sharing.
Looks like a book my two boys would enjoy. Need some more pro knitting propaganda. Thanks.
Oh, this looks like such a fun book! =)
Would love to win this for my young son 🙂
My granddaughter is eager to knit. She’s 3 and thinks Gramma makes magic with yarn. She will love this book.
My budding reader and knitter would love this!!!
My two favourite hobbies. Reading and knitting he
granddaughter loves reading and trying to knit! sounds good
Looks adorable!
I’d love to win a copy to add to my crochet groups library. We teach primary school age kids to crochet and this would be a wonderful addition.
Looks great!
Looks great my nearly four year old grandson would be sure to love it as would his Nana.