I Want My Hat Back

by Jon Klassen

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763655988
• ISBN13: 9780763655983
• Release Date: September 2011
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.1" x 11.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Funny book

My girls don’t read too much into it. They think it’s a funny book. Book was in good condition.

Revenge is fun!

This book is about revenge and the cold cruel reality that big animals eat small animals. Kinda funny when you're an adult, but for toddlers, who are still learning right from wrong, this book is just bad.

He who laughs, lasts.

Encourages sense of humor, but based off some negative reviews, I suppose common sense is necessary too. I understand what other reviewers are saying regarding the morals of stealing and lying in this book. As a conscientious parent who screens books before reading them to my 3 and 5 yr olds, this book is well written and illustrated TO BE silly and humorous. Jon Klassen had a simplistic way of story telling that entertains all ages. I imagine any adult reading this book to their children could easily elaborate on the moral issues of bears sometimes eating rabbits… especially stealing and lying ones. This is not intended to be a character building story. Or maybe it could be, bc stealing and lying can get you eaten up. Nonetheless, my littles laughed. How wonderful it is to hear their giggles when they understand a punch line and grow their funny bone.

Terrible Lessons Terrible Ending Really Upsetting For Conscientious Kids

I wish I had tried harder to find out the contents of this book before purchasing. It shows up on early reader listicles as a top book for sight readers. This book makes lying, stealing and harming others seem silly and cute. It’s not. The bear eats the rabbit wearing his hat in the end, then lies about it.

This book is hilarious!

This book is one that grows with your kids in the humor. Adults laugh right alongside the kids

Bad moral, waste of reading time

I guess the author intended for the simple language to be comical and enlightening but I think it’s rather “dumbing down” with its lack of grammar. It also portrays lying as funny and acceptable. There is really no point to reading this book, but I can see how it is potentially pointing kids in the direction of casual lying. Don’t even waste your time when there are so many good books out there.

So cute and funny

I love this book so much. I cried with laughter the first time I read it. It's my standby book gift for kids.

Not age appropriate

I was trying to teach my daughter values and amidst her newfound stealing behavior I thought a book would be a great way to correct it. Well this book was a little traumatic of she already steals but doesnt know its bad yet.