This is Not My Hat: Book Review

This is Not My Hat: Book Review

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Klassen, Jon. This is Not My Hat. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2012. ISBN 0763655996

PLOT SUMMARY

This story opens with a naughty little fish stealing a hat that does not belong to them. Coming upon a sleeping bigger fish with a hat, the naughty fish takes it. The fish knows that stealing is wrong, but justifies its actions by stating that the hat was too small for the big fish anyways. The fish narrates its thoughts along the way to the intended destination, the place where the plants are big and tall, a place where it can hide with its new hat. Will this naughty fish get away with this crime? The big fish follows the little fish throughout the tale and gets its hat back in the end.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

From the very start of this tale, the reader knows that the little fish is wrong in stealing the hat. The fish openly admits to stealing, and does not show much remorse, instead believing that it can get away with the crime by hiding out in some tall plants where no one can see. This is an imaginative tale that teaches that stealing is wrong, and that stealing is not something one can get away with, not even if you are a sneaky little fish.

The beautiful illustrations keep the reader interested throughout the entire story. This vivid imagery serves to show the reader the truth throughout the tale, showing each truth little by little as the narration by the little fish continues on. The beautiful use of coloration, as well as the emotion portrayed on the big fish’s face as the story progresses, helps to build anticipation as the story approaches its end.  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Caldecott Medal

Book Editor’s Choice: Book’s for Youth

From Common Sense Media: “Fans…will be happy to have another low-key but subversively funny adventure involving a wild creature and a hat.”

From New York Times Book Review: “A marvelous book in the true dictionary sense of ‘marvel’…a charmingly wicked little book.”

From Wall Street Journal: “Stylishly deadpan.”

CONNECTIONS

This book can be used to talk to children about stealing, why it is wrong, and why it is not a nice thing to do even when you think you can get away with it.

This can be used to teach how imagery/illustrations help to tell the story.

Read other Jon Klassen books such as:

• ·         I Want My Hat Back. ISBN 0763655988
• ·         We Found a Hat. ISBN 0763656003

Read other books that teach lessons to children such as:

• ·         Flowers, R. Barri. Greenley the Mean Goat. ISBN 1517436060
• ·         Pieper, Martha Heineman. Jilly’s Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them. ISBN 0983866414