Book Review: I Want My Hat Back

I Want My Hat Back. By Jon Klassen. Illus. by the author. 2011.40p. Candlewick, $15.99(9780763655983)

Format: Hardcover
Age Group: PreS-Gr.2

Genre:Fiction

Awards:Theodor Seuss Geisel Beginning Reader Honor

E.B. White Read Aloud Award

Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee

E.B. White Read-Aloud Picture Book finalist

Bank Street Irma Black Awards

Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices List

Texas 2x2 Reading List Selection

ALA Notable Children's Books

New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

CYBIL Award - Shortlist

 Horn Book Fanfare, The

New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year

Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year

New York Times Book Review 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books 

Subjects/Themes:Lost and found possessions, Bears, Hats

ELS promoted:Print motivation, narrative skills, print awareness

 

Annotation:

 A bear almost gives up looking for his hat until he remembers something important. 

Reactions/Observations:

Klassen is known for his illustrations in other books. His first story depicts a bear’s search for his lost red hat. He questions every animal he encounters—the fox, frog, rabbit with a familiar red hat, turtle, snake, and armadillo. Each one answering that they had not seen his hat. The bear finally lies on the floor in defeat when a reindeer walks by to ask what’s wrong. The bear shares his dilemma and describes his hat, only to trigger a memory of seeing his hat! He knows who took it! He runs back to rabbit. With tense glances across pages, bear and rabbit duke it out without saying a word. The audience is unaware of the conflict’s conclusion until squirrel asks about rabbit’s whereabouts. He is answered by bear that has mysteriously reclaimed his cap by unknown circumstances and proclaims his innocence in a defensive although humorous manner. 

The illustrations are simple and expressive. The bear is on the left page discussing with another animal on the right page. Their eyes are dead pan, but in combination with the dialogue the emotions and actions are well depicted. The simplicity leaves much to the imagination which appeals both to its younger audience and the grown up audience. The humor has a dark edge, but not enough to dim the levity of the story. 

I recently used this story as a puppet show. We worried that the kids may not understand the silent moments, but were surprised that the humor and meaningful pauses were equally important parts of the story. Children and parents enjoyed the show.  Although I think the ideal audience would have been preschool and higher.