about the book
Bear has lost his hat and he wants it back.
Now this Bear is not too swift. As a matter of fact, he is rather slow-witted, but he is patient and polite as he asks one animal after another if they have seen his hat.
All the animals say they haven’t seen his hat…except for Rabbit. This shifty bunny is way too defensive. He tells Bear he would never steal a hat and instructs Bear not to ask him any more questions.
After asking more animals if they have seen his hat, Bear lies in the grass bemoaning his lost chapeau. When he tries to describe the lost cap to the deer, the bumbling Bear realizes he HAS seen his hat…on the Rabbit’s head!
Rabbit lied to him and stole his hat!
You’ll never guess what happens next!
about the author/illustrator
Growing up in Niagara Falls, Ontario, young Jon Klassen was influenced by the illustrations of P. D. Eastman’s books. He liked the simplicity, clean style, and minimal backgrounds. He knew from the very beginning that he would be a “drawing person.”
After studying animation at Sheridan College, in 2005 Jon headed to Los Angeles, hoping to work in the film industry. For five years, he did animation on such projects as Coraline and Kung Fu Panda. During that time he did his first book illustration, which garnered several awards. He decided that he really liked working on books more than films!
In 2010, Jon turned to illustrating books full time. His preferred mediums are inks, gouaches, and acrylics. Everything is cut and assembled and then scanned into the computer to be digitally tweaked. He is currently experimenting with a new technique that uses altered photos. His studio is in his home, and he admits it is a little messy—lots of bits of paper lying around!
I Want My Hat Back is Jon’s first picture book. His book This Is Not My Hat is a 2013 Caldecott Honor winner! He says “drawing is more fun, but writing makes you feel smarter!” Right now he is drawing and writing about fish. He says it is a challenge—fish don’t do much or say anything!
Sources:
Author website
Author interview : There’s a Book
Author interview : Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Author biography : Wikipedia
Also illustrated by Jon Klassen:
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett. Candlewick Press. 2014.
The Dark by Lemony Snicket. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2013.
This Is Not My Hat. Candlewick Press. 2012.
House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser. Candlewick Press. 2012.
Extra Yarn. Balzer + Bray. 2012.
read more!
Brimsby’s Hats by Andrew Prahin
Brimsby, a small, fuzzy creature, is very sad when his friend, whom he has shared tea and conversation with each day, goes off to sea. In need of new friends, he comes upon some birds feverishly shoveling snow out of their nest. Since he is a hat maker, he has a perfect solution to the birds’ problem. Brimsby’s thoughtfulness earns him treesful of new friends and a delightful conversation about how lemon cookies are much yummier than worms!
Magritte’s Marvelous Hat by D. B. Johnson
One day Rene Magritte bought a hat that would not sit on his head. Instead, it floats just above his head, and gives Magritte amazing powers to paint beautiful paintings; but Magritte forgot about the hat’s needs, so the hat blew out the window, and now Magritte has to find it again to get his painting powers back.
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A tiny gray fish swims into view, wearing a finely crafted bowler hat. He has just stolen it from a much larger fish. The only one who knows he stole it is a little crab, because the fish boasted about the theft. Bad move, little gray fish, you should know better than to trust a crab! What is that giant shadow swimming behind you now?