The Hat

The Hat is a welcome companion to her popular tale The Mitten. Set on a Danish farm, this amusing story about Hedgie, a hedgehog who gets a sock stuck on his head, will engage children on many levels. Everyone will giggle at Hedgie’s plight as he tries to convince his animal friends of the benefits of his new “hat.” The class also will have fun discussing the folly of blindly following a leader. Best of all, though, are Brett’s richly layered illustrations, with borders that portray the sock owner’s preparations for winter, the animal featured on the next page, and the clothesline as, one by one, the animals make away with various garments. Together, illustrations and text offer rewarding reading, inviting children to examine picture clues and make predictions, without losing the spirit of the tale. The book can also inspire a fine study of hats and the reasons people wear them, which could culminate in a parade of children sporting their own chapeaus.