Sophia helps her neighbor Mrs. Goldman by making pom-poms for the hats the older woman knits for their friends and neighbors. Making pom-poms is what Sophia is good at. Knitting is too hard for her. When Mrs. Goldman gives away her own hat to someone who needs it, Sophia worries about how cold she must be when they are out together. She decides to take matters into her own hands by knitting a new hat for Mrs. Goldman. The result, not surprisingly, is a hat that’s lumpy and full of holes. How can Sophia give such an awful looking hat to someone who knits such beautiful ones? The answer lies in Sophia’s special skill—20 pom-poms to cover all the holes. Mrs. Goldman loves her unique hat—a “mitzvah” she calls it. G. Brian Karas’s cozy mixed-media illustrations are perfect for this warm story about a friendship between an elderly Jewish woman and her young Latina neighbor. (Ages 4–7)

This heartwarming winter story is perfect for those who love to knit and parents looking to teach their children about the importance of doing good for others!

Mrs. Goldman always knits hats for everyone in the neighborhood, and Sophia, who thinks knitting is too hard, helps by making the pom-poms. But now winter is here, and Mrs. Goldman herself doesn't have a hat-she's too busy making hats for everyone else! It's up to Sophia to buckle down and knit a hat for Mrs. Goldman. But try as Sophia might, the hat turns out lumpy, the stitches aren't even, and there are holes where there shouldn't be holes. Sophia is devastated until she gets an idea that will make Mrs. Goldman's hat the most wonderful of all. Readers both young and old will relate to Sophia's frustrations, as well as her delight in making something special for someone she loves.

A knitting pattern is included in the back of the book.

"[A] celebration of winter mitzvahs, or kind deeds. Karas's adorable, radiant art adds to the heartwarming mood."--The New York Times