Title: The Miracle of the Ugly Little Sweater
Author: Bob Schuck
Illustrator: Maggie Lin
Publisher: Book Domain LLC.
ISBN: 978-1970309492
Pages: 35
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Miracles & Faith
Reviewer: Beth Adams
Hollywood Book Reviews
Author and creator Bob Schuck had a vision of The Miracle of the Ugly Little Sweater come to him in a dream. In this book we meet Maria, a poor girl who knits a sweater with love and creativity out of the yarn and scrap materials she can find around her house. She and her family wish to go to the United States for a better life and as the story progresses her uncle sponsors them for their journey. To help pay for this move, Maria brings her little sweater to the market to sell, but it seems as if people ridicule her and say the sweater is ugly. This saddens Maria as well as the sweater as the garment has feelings too. Then a nice lady buys her sweater.
The story moves on and the family now lives in America. There she is adapting to the new lifestyle and has a birthday party, when low and behold her gift-wrapped box contains the sweater she made, and Maria and the little sweater are once again united.
A simple plot as it may seem, the emotions of the personified sweater are wonderfully illustrated by artist Maggie Lin to show sadness when at the market the sweater and Maria are insulted, happiness when the sweater is finally bought by the tourist lady, and totally surprised when the sweater is reunited with Maria. Children will feel these emotions as the story is paged.
Author Bob Schuck has put together a book showing faith, redemption and trust, in the simplest terms well suited to the developing minds of children. His story is short but focused, bringing in a surprise ending with a theme of trust and love. The use of the little sweater as being a character in the story is a clever way to bring sympathetic emotions to readers without having to use a child, allowing children to see the transitions of sadness, curiosity and happiness through the “eyes” of the innate sweater.
All in all, The Miracle of the Ugly Little Sweater is a fun story which has the element of surprise. It will be enjoyed repeatedly. The author ends with open-ended questions adults can use to prompt further discussions of faith and miracles with their children. In this tender story, a young girl’s loving sacrifice transforms an “ugly” little sweater into a symbol of hope and kindness. Bob Schuck delivers a touching story that will inspire children to believe in the power of love and generosity. This is a book which will find a deserving spot on family bookshelves, and who knows, may even encourage children to knit their own sweater.