Module 2: I Want My Hat Back

Book Summary: After bear's hat goes missing, he heads out on a mission to find it. One by one, he asks other animals if any of them have seen it. Eventually, something makes bear think that he has indeed seen his hat. These inquisitions lead to a most devious conclusion.

Reference:  
Klassen, J. (2011). I want my hat back. Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press.

Impressions: This is a witty and irreverent picture book for young readers. The illustrations are bold, yet simple. The text and story are presented only in dialogue, which helps the child pick up on intonation and other aural reading cues. As bear gets more frustrated, the other animals get snippy with him. When he eventually realizes where his hat might be, the ending is both clever and sinister, something that a child might find hilarious or horrifying. It brings up issues of want, lying, patience, friendliness (or lack thereof), and ugly retribution. It demands a certain reader, but if your child can handle some dark humor, it is very entertaining, has a great payoff, and can be read over and over to the point of easy memorization.

Professional Review: “I Want My Hat Back is a marvelous book in the true dictionary sense of marvel : it is a wonderful and astonishing thing, the kind of book that makes child laugh and adult chuckle, and both smile in appreciation.” - The New York Times

Paul, P. (2011, October 12) Not just another bear story [Review of the book I want my hat back, by J. Klassen]. The New York Times. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/books/review/not-just-another-bear-story.html

Library Use: This would be a great book to start a group of children out with if you are teaching an improv class, or other theatrical performance. It allows for multiple characters, and encourages appropriate timing, humor, and other performance skills. After reading the book as a group, with each child taking on one role, see if the children can come up with clever responses of their own to tell the bear looking for his hat.