Title: We Found a Hat
Author/Illustrator: Jon Klassen
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2016
Intended Ages: 4-8
Themes: Animals, Temptation, Friendship
Opening Lines: "We found a hat
We found it together."
Synopsis: Two turtles find a hat. It looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles, and only one hat.
What I like about this book: Jon Klassen is the master of understatement and the power of single glances. His newest addition to his "hat cycle" of stories adds a layer of tenderness and friendship to his spot-on deadpan humor. This is another story that leaves the emotional inner story to the reader to fill in. Klassen is the master of what happens in the story, off the page. The limited, muted palette keeps the focus squarely on the text and those expressive eyes. Constructed in three chapters, the 56 pages fly by. I believe it's appropriate for even young toddlers, age 2 and up.
Resources/Activities:
- Read the author's hat trilogy (This Is Not My Hat, I Want My Hat Back and We Found a Hat). Discuss which you like best, and why
- Talk about things you have. Which would you share? Why or why not? Does it matter if it's something that can be returned, or something gets consumed (like cookies)?
- Brainstorm alternate endings for this book. Could they have taken turns wearing the hat? Made another hat? Could one turtle have taken the hat? How does the choice of an ending affect the characters' friendship?
- Share something with a friend.
- Buy a new hat for yourself or to donate to charity. Why do you pick the one you do?
Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy my selection this week.
This review is part of PPBF (Perfect Picture Book Friday) where bloggers share great picture books. Organized and curated by author Susanna Leonard Hill, she keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books. #PPBF
Oh great, another hat book by John Klassen! This sounds like another wonderful contribution to his work. Love the themes and humor. Great cover.
ReplyDeleteI know some people don't like all of his hat books--this one "goes" with the others, but also completely stands alone. MUCH softer than the first two in theme.
DeleteCan't wait to read #3! I was a fan from the get go!
ReplyDeleteSo am I--the first two are edgier. I didn't want to give away the ending of this one but know that IMO it is fantastic.
DeleteI didn't know John Klassen added a third book to his hat series. I'll see if my library has this one. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it!
DeleteI can't wait to read the latest in the hat series! Jon Klassen is a master of leaving just the right elements to the reader's imagination.
ReplyDeleteI think this is my favorite so far.
DeleteIt took me a couple reads to get his humorous in the first hat book, and now find them so clever. Definitely going to read this one.
ReplyDeleteNo lives lost in this one!
DeleteIt took me a couple reads to get his humorous in the first hat book, and now find them so clever. Definitely going to read this one.
ReplyDeleteI admire that the mood imbibed from this one is so strong!
ReplyDeleteThe longing is tangible. The friendship, solid.
DeleteI remember after my first read of I Want My Hat Back I was a little taken aback by its humor. I did/do appreciate it and think it's clever. Then I read Have You Seen My Hat? and LOVED it! I do like We Found A Hat, and like that the ending is a little less severe, but I still like Have You Seen My Hat best.
ReplyDeleteYou may be right--This one may be a little sophisticated for the youngest. I hope the audience connects with it!
Deleteit's always interesting to see how authors carry their theme through a picture book series. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Because Klassen uses different characters so well, instead of a character series it is a thematic series on justice/right and wrong.
DeleteLOVE John Klassen's books!
ReplyDelete