Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Millie's Marvellous Hat

Millie's Marvellous Hat

Satoshi Kitamura
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 8
Andersen Press USA, 2009   ISBN: 978-0761351535

One day Millie is walking home from school when she sees a lovely hat in the window of a shop. She goes in, tries on the hat, and decides that the hat is perfect for her. Unfortunately, the $599.99 price tag is a lot more than she can afford. The man in the shop asks Millie what she can afford, and she shows him her purse, which is empty. Most people would have sent Millie on her way, but this man comes up with a great solution to Millie’s problem. He gives her a hat that “can be any size, shape, or color.” All she has to do “is imagine it.”

Luckily, Millie is a very imaginative person, and in not time at all she is imagining the most splendid hats. Best of all, Millie is also able to imagine hats for other people.

This delightful picture book celebrates the joy that a good imagination can give a person. With art that is colorful, and with hats that are deliciously outrageous, Satoshi Kitamura has created a picture book that is a joy to read and to look at. Who knew that having a good imagination could be so much fun!