No one loves subversive humor and absurd twists more than I, so imagine my surprise when I found both these things in a picture book. Who would have thought? Well, Jon Klassen, that’s who! And he’s given us all the gift of his dark tale of intrigue, loss, despair, and redemption…or is it revenge?
Possibly the oddest children’s book I’ve read thus far, it’s also one of my favorites for its pure silliness and its breaking-all-the-rules, devil-may-care attitude.
If film noir were a picture book, it would be I Want My Hat Back, with Klassen’s critter cast in the role of bear fatale.
[heading style=”1″]The Goods[/heading]
I Want My Hat Back
Written and Illustrated by: Jon Klassen
Publisher: Candlewick Press (September 2011)
Genre: Picture Book/Fiction
Awards: 2012 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
Ages: 4+
Themes/Topics: Humor, Loss, Animals, Helping, Problem Solving
Opening and Brief Synopsis:
My hat is gone. I want it back.
Bear has lost his pointy red hat and he’s determined to get it back. He asks fox and frog and turtle and snake. No one has seen his hat! Bear is despondent!
Nobody has seen my hat. What if I never see it again? What if nobody ever finds it? My poor hat. I miss it so much.
But then deer asks a question that sparks a memory. Maybe bear has seen his hat!
Links to Resources:
- This downloadable Candlewick Story-Hour Kit includes several learning activities and games for the book.
- Kids can make their own pointy red hats with this Make-a-Hat Activity Sheet at scribd.com.
- Drama: This book is perfect for dramatizing as reader’s theater for older children (giving each child a creature to portray) or as a call-and-response activity for younger children (“Have you seen my hat?” “No!” and so on).
Book Trailer
Why I Like This Book: It’s hysterical! It’s genius! Besides the dark humor, I love that the book is written entirely in dialogue, but without the use of dialogue tags. Instead, the dialogue of different characters is shown through text color and formatting.
This style means that there is no “showing” going on in the text, and makes the action more immediate, as if we’re right there in the woods with all those creatures. My boys are still too young for this one, but I would imagine kids would get a big kick out of helping bear find his hat, especially in one scene in particular…but I won’t give it away.
The text itself is simple, simple, simple, yet reveals so much about bear and each animal he encounters.
Just as spare are the illustrations, so witty and funny that they tell a story all by themselves. I like that none of the animals have mouths. That, coupled with all the white space, somehow creates a sense of silence and suspense, making the payoff of the last spread even more…
…delicious, shall we say?
[divider top=”0″]Perfect Picture Book Fridays is a shared weekly event started by children’s author Susanna Leonard Hill. You can find the entire list of recommended picture books on the Perfect Picture Books page on her blog.
I LOVE THIS BOOK!! It is just awesome!! I love the look on the bear’s face and the fact he wears a pointy red hat 🙂
GREAT choice!!
I know! He’s so attached to that hat! I wonder where he got it?
This was one of my favorite books from last year and I nominated it for the Cybils. It is delightfully naughty and witty, but definitely not to all parents’ taste!
Yes, “naughty” is such a good word for it. It’s like a guilty pleasure book for toddlers to hide under their mattresses. HA!
This is one of the times I’m sorry I’m not in the classroom anymore. I love this book too, and want to read it to a group & make those pointy hats! I think I’m going to have to ‘borrow’ a class soon! Thanks!
And I wish my boys were big enough for the book…but soon enough, I guess. Then pointy hats shall be made!
We just picked this book up yesterday and it is brilliant! My husband said it’s the best children’s book he’s ever seen. Probably because our household tends toward dark, subversive humor, too 😉 Awesome choice!
Never too early to nurture a twisted sense of humor, right, Heather? 🙂
gotta get ’em young and raise ’em up right!
If film noir were a picture book, it would be I Want My Hat Back, with Klassen’s critter cast in the role of bear fatale.
That could be my all-time favorite sentence in a picture book review! 🙂
I’m with Julie 🙂 I love this book too – so clever and dare to be different. I like the line, “What’s a hat” “Okay, Thank you anyway!” I suppose some people might object to the idea that the bear ate the hat-stealing rabbit 🙂 but most people seem able to see the humor! Great choice!
@ Julie – Hee! This book inspires silliness, what can I say?
@ Susanna – I love that line, too! He’s such a very polite bear. Maybe we should add “good manners” to the themes. Although I don’t think the rabbit would agree with us.
I laughed my head off when I read this book at Barnes & Noble. It was such a refreshing surprise. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I didn’t spit latte everywhere!
This looks like a delightful book! I am sure some little people in my life would love it.
@ Genevieve – I had the same reaction – totally unexpected!
@ Darlene – As long as they aren’t rabbit lovers…:)
I can never find this book at the library!!!! ARRRRGH! One of these days I will get my hands on it. It is on the top of my list of PBs to read to my kids. Great review!
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must get this. It looks so cute. What a fabulous choice. Bear is just so doggone adorable. What a fantastic review. Can you tell how much I want this book?????
Thanks for sharing this. *waving and smiling*
@ Eric – Just take them to the book store and read it there! But then you might have to buy it…
@ Robyn – Ha! Well, go get it! It’s such an unusual addition to any library!
Absolutely love this book! So glad you added it to our list. Dont know whether I loved your fun review and excitement, or the book better!!! Love it people really get excited about a book!
These illustrations are hilarious. Thanks for providing us with such an in-depth look look at this book.
@ Pat – Excellent – glad my enthusiasm shows through! I really do love this one.
@ Kirsten – I know, I practically put the whole book up there. So hard to choose just a few pages…
I haven’t read this yet, but can’t wait! Thanks for sharing.
This one has been on my list for some time. Your review reminded me that I need to read this book. The cover illo alone made me giggle the first time I saw it. I am so glad you added it to the list 🙂
I love this book. It’s so simple and yet so clever. And dark is right. My kids do enjoy it — although I think they may have missed the whole part about eating the rabbit.
@ Jennifer @ Loni – Definitely put this one at the top of the reading list. I really think it deserves a place of honor just for being different (and fabulous in every other way).
@ Margaret – Yeah, if the kids don’t get it, I’d just let eaten rabbits lie.
Add me to the list of folks who love the dark humor of this book. The great thing about it, I think, is that kids don’t really find it to be dark. So it entertains both the adult and the child, but for different reasons. Brilliant!
Renée,
I’ve heard a lot about this book but your review has sold me on it. I’ve got to get my hands on it.
Thanks!
@ Amy – Yup, that’s what I love about it. Would love to see more books like this. Hey, I know — we should write some! 🙂
@ Dana – You must!
Great find Renee – this definitely looks like a book we’d enjoy. Will have to try and track it down. x
Greetings, Renee!
I’ve just awarded you the Liebster Blog award for your lovely blog. You can see details at this post on my blog:
Liebster Blog Award – Spreading the Love http://jenniferkirkeby.blogspot.com/
Happy Writing!
Jennifer
And I too LOVE the book I Want My Hat Back!
This is a great book. The illustrations were delightful. Thanks for the awesome review, Renee.
wonderful review Renee….. I can imagine you reading this….. Such a delightful story. Thanks.
I just got this book in the mail as a late Valentine’s Day gift from a friend. I can’t wait to read it to my kiddos at bedtime. I think it’s going to become a bedtime book favorite.
Renée, I also wanted to thank you for stopping by http://literarylunchbox.blogspot.com/ to comment on my son’s essay. He has been overjoyed to read all the comments and book suggestions. Thank you!
Did I not comment on this yet? What a great choice! Marty Banks mentioned it at our local SCBWI meeting on Sunday…and I knew I had remembered seeing it on Susanna’s PPBF list.
Thank you for a wonderful review, Renee. 🙂
I just picked up this book today, on your recommendation, and it’s hilarious! I can hardly wait to read it to my class. Thanks!!
❀Barbara❀
Grade ONEderful
The library got this in for me. Oh wow! I can see now why there is controversy. I was shocked at first just by the daring of it. I loved it! It was different and not the typical children’s book. Yes, a noir is a great description. I loved the look on the bear’s face when he said. “WAIT! I HAVE SEEN….” 😀 Great book!