This is Not My Hat

1.      Bibliography

Klasen, Jon. 2012. This is Not My Hat. Ill. by Jon Klassen. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763655990

2.      Plot Outline

A small fish bravely steals a hat from a bigger fish thinking he can get away with it. The little fish brags about his hiding spot and how clever he is to the readers, but the illustrations say otherwise. Through the little amount of text and visual clues, a story is told about consequences and how a big fish gets his hat back.

3.      Critical Analysis

Jon Klassen story is short of words but deceptive in that there is still a lot of storytelling to follow. The little fish is telling the readers about how great he was in stealing, but the visuals comically show the reader how unreliable the little fish is as a narrator. It allows the readers to understand how words don’t match reality as they unfold, creating both humor and suspense.

 

The artwork won the Caldecott Medal for how minimalistic, yet great it is. Klassen uses a lot of muted colors of brown, black and blues to give the underwater setting. The wide expressive eyes also help the reader understand what is trying to be communicated through the smallest of movements. There are a lot of moments where it is just pictures which allow for readers to begin noticing details and interpreting meanings on their own.

 

The theme of consequences and morality is present within the humor and suspense of this story. It allows for the story to be accessible to younger readers, but enjoyable for older readers.

4.      Review Excerpts

Irma Black Award, 2013, Honor, Picture Book

Kate Greenaway Medal, 2014, Winner

Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2014, Winner, K-2

Randolph Caldecott Medal, 2013, Winner

Starred Review By Booklist: “Once again, the simple, dramatic tension and macabre humor mesh splendidly with Klassen s knack for tiny, telling details and knockout page turns. Who knew hat thievery was such a bottomless well?”

5.      Connections

In the classroom, students could compare the perspectives of the little and big fish. They could even rewrite the story from the big fish’ point of view. Teachers can use this to discuss unreliable narrators and how illustrations and small details can tell a different story.

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