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I Want My Hat Back

by Jon Klassen

I Want My Hat Back Cover

ISBN13: 9780763655983
ISBN10: 0763655988
All Product Details

 

Awards

Staff Pick

Jon Klassen's charming picture book transcends age. The story is simple but utterly hilarious. The illustrations are pointed and evocative; the way Klassen draws the animals' eyes, alone, is worth the price of admission. I've recommended this book more than any other this year. Hands down: brilliant.
Recommended by Ann E., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011!

A picture-book delight by a rising talent tells a cumulative tale with a mischievous twist.

The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear's memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor — and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

Review:

"In his first outing as an author, Klassen's (Cats' Night Out) words and artwork are deliberately understated, with delectable results. Digitally manipulated ink paintings show a slow-witted bear asking half a dozen forest animals if they've seen his hat. Unadorned lines of type, printed without quotation marks or attributions, parallel the sparse lines Klassen uses for the forest's greenery. Most of the answers the bear gets are no help ('What's a hat?' one animal asks), but the rabbit's answer arouses suspicion: 'I haven't seen any hats anywhere. I would not steal a hat. Don't ask me any more questions.' In a classic double-take, the bear doesn't notice the hat on the rabbit's head until several pages on: 'I have seen my hat,' he realizes, wide-eyed. Readers with delicate sensibilities may object to the implied conclusion ('I would not eat a rabbit,' the bear says stoutly, his hat back on his head, the forest floor showing signs of a scuffle), but there is no objecting to Klassen's skillful characterizations; though they're simply drawn and have little to say, each animal emerges fully realized. A noteworthy debut. Ages 4 — 8. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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

Review:

"The joy of this book lies in figuring out the explicit plot from the implicit details in the pictures, especially a few wordless ones." Chicago Tribune

About the Author

Jon Klassen received the 2010 Canadian Governor General's Award for his illustrations in Caroline Stutson's CAT'S NIGHT OUT. He also created illustrations for the popular series THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE and served as an illustrator on the animated feature film Coraline. I WANT MY HAT BACK is the first book he has both written and illustrated. Originally from Niagara Falls, Canada, he lives in Los Angeles.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 5 comments:

Nate Woody, January 19, 2012 (view all comments by Nate Woody)
There are only a few books that I truly enjoy reading to my kid at night and this is one of them. We both love the pictures and it's just a simple, beautifully illustrated book that I've been known to leaf through when she's not around. It's just great.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Tiffany Dall, January 5, 2012 (view all comments by Tiffany Dall)
My sons and I love this book! My oldest (4) had it memorized after one reading and loves to read it to his brother. I love how much is said without words, beautiful illustrations.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
kateinwa, January 4, 2012 (view all comments by kateinwa)
Such a fun and clever book that will entertain the adults as well as the kids! I bought it for my boys (totally charmed by a chance reading in the store) and it was an instant hit. The boys love taking turns reading the characters' dialog and always scream with delight at the ending. This will be a kid's classic and it is truely beloved in our house.
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View all 5 comments

Product Details

ISBN:
9780763655983
Author:
Klassen, Jon
Publisher:
Candlewick
Author:
Klassen, J.
Subject:
Animals - General
Subject:
Children s Animals-Animal Stories-Bears
Subject:
Children s humor
Copyright:
Publication Date:
20110927
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
from P up to 3
Language:
English
Illustrations:
4-COLOR
Pages:
40
Dimensions:
11.31 x 8.32 x 0.4 in 0.855 lb
Age Level:
from 4 up to 8

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Related Aisles

I Want My Hat Back New Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$15.99 In Stock
Product details 40 pages Candlewick Press (MA) - English 9780763655983 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

Jon Klassen's charming picture book transcends age. The story is simple but utterly hilarious. The illustrations are pointed and evocative; the way Klassen draws the animals' eyes, alone, is worth the price of admission. I've recommended this book more than any other this year. Hands down: brilliant.

"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "In his first outing as an author, Klassen's (Cats' Night Out) words and artwork are deliberately understated, with delectable results. Digitally manipulated ink paintings show a slow-witted bear asking half a dozen forest animals if they've seen his hat. Unadorned lines of type, printed without quotation marks or attributions, parallel the sparse lines Klassen uses for the forest's greenery. Most of the answers the bear gets are no help ('What's a hat?' one animal asks), but the rabbit's answer arouses suspicion: 'I haven't seen any hats anywhere. I would not steal a hat. Don't ask me any more questions.' In a classic double-take, the bear doesn't notice the hat on the rabbit's head until several pages on: 'I have seen my hat,' he realizes, wide-eyed. Readers with delicate sensibilities may object to the implied conclusion ('I would not eat a rabbit,' the bear says stoutly, his hat back on his head, the forest floor showing signs of a scuffle), but there is no objecting to Klassen's skillful characterizations; though they're simply drawn and have little to say, each animal emerges fully realized. A noteworthy debut. Ages 4 — 8. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Review" by , "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."
"Review" by , "The joy of this book lies in figuring out the explicit plot from the implicit details in the pictures, especially a few wordless ones."
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