Book Review For THIS IS NOT MY HAT

Book Review For:

 

Klassen, Jon. 2012. THIS IS NOT MY HAT. Ill. by Jon Klassen. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763655990

            A small fish informs readers that he stole a hat from a big fish and, basically, that he’s going to get away with it. Through subtle hints in the illustrations, readers learn that the big fish is on to the little fish and is following him despite what the small fish is saying. Tension is created by the image of a crab pointing out to the big fish where the little fish went. The climax reaches its peak when readers see the big fish’s tail fin going into the tall plants where the little fish is hiding. Will the little fish be able to hide from the big fish? Will he really get away with this crime?

            THIS IS NOT MY HAT takes place in deep, dark waters, and as the reader reads to the right, the fish swim along in the same direction. The untraditional, mostly black pages of the book capture the readers’ attention as trailing bubbles and swaying grasses help to indicate movement and a gentle pace to the story. The elongated rectangle shape of the book and pages adds to this horizontal movement effect.

            Jon Klassen’s illustrations reveal more to the reader than the words. In fact, it is with great amusement that readers discover that the little fish is only saying what he wants to believe and not what is actually happening. For instance, despite the little fish saying that the big fish won’t notice his hat is gone, readers see the direction and shape of the big fish’s eyes and know that he does indeed notice the absence of his hat and that he isn’t too happy about it. The size difference between the two fish escalates the tension and establishes the possibility of danger for the little fish. After the reader sees the big fish’s tail fin going into the tall plants where the little fish is hiding and the climax is reached, the next two pages reveal nothing but the tall plants, leaving the readers to wonder what is happening and lengthening the suspense. These crucial details do not go unnoticed, such as the presence or absence of the hat on the big fish’s head.

            THIS IS NOT MY HAT contains the universal truth that it’s dangerous for someone to pick on someone else bigger than him/herself, and the theme is cleverly conveyed. If a person steals something, they are likely to get caught.

            After sharing this artwork/story, which has won the Caldecott Medal in 2013 and has become the 2013 New York Times Bestseller, with young children, I might ask them to write about what happened in the tall grasses that we couldn’t see, and the moral implications of stealing could be discussed. I might also ask them to create an additional scene to the ending or to construct a new hat for the little fish.