Thursday, December 27, 2012

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen


 I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Rating: 4.5 stars

I have to say, right up front, that Lorelei would give this 6 stars.  All three kindergarten classes at her school voted for their favorite book, and this is the one she chose.  She thinks it is so funny.  HI-larious.  Laugh-out-loud, pee-in-your-pants, bust-a-gut, funny.

I think it's okay.

Which means--gasp!--I'm a muggle!  I've been doing my best to stay young and cool and carefree but...it's...it's just no use.  I can't shake the twinge of morbid in the end of this book, so I can't completely laugh right alongside Lorelei.  I'm curious what you people think out there.  (Mom?  Thoughts?)

Lorelei reads the book to Kiefer.
In case you've not read it: Bear loses his hat and, one by one, interviews all the animals in the forest to see if they've seen it.  The third of his six interviews is with Rabbit, who is wearing a conspicuous red party hat (in the dull tones of the book, the red stands out).  Bear doesn't notice.  Pages later, Bear sighs with discontent at the fact that none of these animals could help him; he is still missing his hat.

But wait!  He remembers seeing it!

He scrolls through his brain until he realizes the very funny thing: Rabbit was wearing his hat when Bear talked with him!  Bear runs back, confronts Rabbit, and they have a two-page spread of a stare-down.  The. Tension.  Is.  Thick.

Turn the page.

We see no Rabbit, just Bear wearing his red party hat, and Bear denies ever having seen Rabbit.

Enter Lorelei, laughing her blond little head off, at the fact that Bear ate Rabbit!  Ha ha ha ha!

The stare-down.
Wait.  I'm supposed to be laughing here?  I say this to Lorelei.

She points out how there is now a bulge in Bear's belly.  Clearly, Mommy, Bear ate Rabbit.  Ha ha ha ha!

I dunno.  I'm kind of sad for Rabbit.  Poor guy.  Does he really deserve to be eaten?!  Over a silly hat?  I think I managed a fake little laugh, only so Lorelei could remain clueless about how seriously I take some books, about how muggle-like I really am.  Don't judge me for putting on a false laugh for her!

4 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Kate!
    Just got caught up on your blog after a month in Australia, Christmas, etc. I was laughing to myself as I read this post because I keep seeing this list on so many "great children's book lists" or hearing parents talk about it and I have to confess -- I totally detest this book: stealing, lying, eating friends?! Terrible! Perhaps, when Arlo is Lorelei's age and can be in on the "joke" I *might* be able to get behind it? Doubtful. Would love to see y'all soon!
    Felicity

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    1. Thanks, Felicity! Glad you don't like it either. (What does Arlo think?)

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  2. I'm going to have to check this one out...just to see where I fall on the mom or Lorelei interpretation.

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  3. Haven't read it yet but we will have to look for it. I think it sounds funny but I am the mom who watched the old twilight zone marathon all day yesterday with her kids. :)

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