This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

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This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen, is the winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal, and the follow up book to the #1 New York Times best selling and award-winning, I want My Hat Back.

Set deep in the ocean, illustrator and author, Jon Klassen, utilized primary shapes and dark hues to keep the action simple and focused on the characters. Rated for readers ages 4-8, This is Not My Hat is riveting despite its succinctness. The best part about it, is that it is able to convey its moral theme without being overtly preachy for children.

The main character is boastful and over-confident, while the supporting character teaches the lesson learned without even uttering a word. Children can read this book and realize that the sneaky character they thought was smartly conniving and going to get away with his theft, in reality is the losing party of this story due solely to his thieving actions. The story teaches the moral of “thou shall not steal,” by showing the possible real-life ramifications of what may happen to you if you do decide to steal someone else’s property. The ending has even more impact because exactly what happens to the thief, is left entirely to the reader’s imagination.

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick.

 -Ms. J