TWO LITTLE RED MITTENS

Accidentally—and permanently—separated, a pair of mittens nevertheless preserve their bond.

The mittens protect Little One’s hands while she plays. At night, they dry by a glowing woodstove as a gray cat sleeps nearby. But one day the child drops her right mitten in the snowy woods. The lost mitten is found and pragmatically repurposed by a fox, a rabbit and her children, several young mice, and a pigeon. Meanwhile, Little One and her mother search for the mitten before the mother knits an identical, satisfactory replacement. The child is oblivious to the drama of the misplaced accessory, but eventually, while Little One is walking in the forest, the left mitten recognizes its now-tattered mate, which has become a sweater for a grateful squirrel. Hayashi brings the narrative to an unconventional ending: While the mittens remain apart, each is useful in a different way, and “they [are] both very happy.” Translated from Japanese, the lengthy though gentle text is absorbing; this is a story that subtly resonates and reassures. Against the pale background, warmed by touches of umber, the saturated red of the mittens flares brightly. Their cable-knit pattern is mirrored in gray on the endpapers. Little One is often depicted facing away from readers; she is pale-faced and dark-haired.

An unusual though soothing tale that’s as comforting as a soft pair of mittens.