I chuckled quite a few times as I turned the pages, but the artwork is really where this book shines.

This story about a well-mannered bear on a quest to find his missing hat is told in simple language, and shares the same sort of gentle mischief that you might find in Sandra Boynton's books for toddlers. This charming picture book caught my eye immediately because of the humorous illustration on the cover, and I'm delighted to say that the contents are just as endearing.

What's a bear to do when he's misplaced his hat? He has to ask all the other animals he meets whether they've seen it, of course! Today I tweeted, “I really want to write about a certain book but various children keep spiriting it away from my stack.”Īnd my husband replied: “I have not seen that book. Most six-year-olds I’ve known would, I think, embrace it with glee. I’ve had three-year-olds who would be very upset by the turn of events. I don’t think everyone will approve of the ending. Rilla, when we read it to her later, chortled wickedly. I’m not going to say what happens after that, but it made my daughters shriek with laughter and shock, even the teenager. I miss it so much.Īnd then the bear remembers where he’s seen it. The bear asks many more animals, with no success, and finally flops down in the grass and stares at the sky. We’re huddled around the book, reading on silently. The animals’ deadpan expressions and terse, uninflected dialogue make this exchange viciously funny. At the rabbit’s remarks, the girls burst out laughing. I thrust the book before their faces, you’ve got to read this, and we stand there turning the pages together. They’re in the kitchen, Scott and my three older girls, ages ten, twelve, and sixteen. This book is begging to be read aloud by a daddy like Scott. Don’t ask me any more questions.”īy this point I’m laughing out loud and I have to go right away and show the book to the rest of my family. Why are you asking me,” replies the rabbit. He asks a rabbit-a rabbit who happens to be wearing a pointy red hat. A bear has lost his hat, and he wants it back. 27), and I began reading it right out of the package, standing in the living room. I was sent a review copy by the publisher (the official pub date is Sept. I think the best way to tell you about I Want My Hat Back is to describe my family’s reaction to it.

Klassen i want my hat back