This Is Not My Hat

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY


Klassen, J. (2014). This is not my hat. (J. Klassen, Illus.). Candlewick Press.



PLOT SUMMARY


In this picture book, Jon Klassen writes about a small fish that stole a small hat from a big fish. The small fish thought he was sneaky enough to do this while the big fish was asleep. But little did he know, the big fish was going to find out of his hiding place and take back what was rightfully his. This is the second book in the trilogy.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS


Jon Klassen writes a simple story showing how a small overly confident fish steals a small hat from a big fish. The small fish thought he could outsmart a big fish by hiding “where the tall plants grow big and tall and close together”.

Klassen’s illustrations use dark black, green, gray colors to show this simple story on how it is wrong to steal things that don’t belong to you.

I would recommend this book for preschool aged children and for teaching children on how wrong it is to steal items that don’t belong to you.



REVIEW EXCERPT(S)


This is, quite simply, an outstanding book—and that ain’t no fish tale.

—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)


Simplicity is key in both text and illustrations. The black underwater provides the perfect background for the mostly gray-toned fish and seaweed while the monochromatic palette strips the artwork down to essential, yet exquisite design. Movement is indicated with a trail of small white bubbles. This not-to-be-missed title will delight children again and again.

—School Library Journal (starred review)


Klassen excels at using pictures to tell the parts of the story his unreliable narrators omit or evade.


—Publishers Weekly (starred review)



CONNECTIONS


This book can be for preschool aged children and teach children on how wrong it is to steal items that don’t belong to you.



AWARDS


New York Times Bestseller


2013 Caldecott Medal winner