Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Christmas Hat
Illustrator: Maggie Kneen
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 8
Penguin, 2005 ISBN: 978-0525472605
When Little Owl gets lost in the woods he is very lucky that he is found by Rabbit and Badger. The two kind animals and their other woodland friends take on the considerable job of taking care of Little Owl. Of course Little Owl is constantly getting into things that he shouldn't and doing things that he shouldn't but his guardians are patient and do their best to keep him out of trouble.
It is especially difficult to keep track of Little Owl when the snow arrives because Little Owl's white plumage blends beautifully with the landscape. To make it easier to see her wayward charge Rabbit decides that she will knit a red hat for the baby bird for a Christmas gift. That way the animals will "always be able to see where he is and what he is up to."
Little does Rabbit know that the Christmas hat will make it possible not just for her to see Little Owl in the snow but it will also make it possible for Fox to see the little bird as well, and that is definitely not a good thing.
With an easy to understand story and with luscious, detailed, and textured illustrations, this is a perfect book to read in the days leading up to Christmas. Children will be delighted to see what Little Owl does with his warm soft Christmas hat.
