Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Hat
Picture Book
For ages 3 to 6
Bloomsbury, 2009 ISBN: 1599902478
One day Henry finds a hat lying on a park bench and he wants to have it. Henry sees that the hat has all kinds of possibilities. Not only will it protect him from the sun and rain, but it will also be useful in many other ways. For example the hat would make a great sled, and it could even save Henry’s life if a ravenous crocodile came along.
Then Henry’s mother points out that the hat must belong to someone. What if they need the hat to protect them from the sun and the rain? What if the hat’s owner gets eaten by a crocodile because he or she does not have the hat. What is Henry to do?
This delightfully minimal picture book will show young readers that it is important to look at a situation from more than one point of view. Yes, Henry wants the hat, but what if the hat is very important to someone else?
With a gentle but meaningful message and more than a few touches of humor, this picture book is sure to provide children and their parents with numerous talking points.