This is a picture book debut by a rising talent that tells a cumulative tale with a cheeky twist, aided by graphically simple, and truly hilarious, illustrations. The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as it he begins to lose hope, lying flat on his back in despair, a deer comes by and asks a rather obvious question that suddenly sparks the bear's memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this quirky take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humour and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke. This title comes from an exciting new author/illustrator talent, previously an artist for Dreamworks Feature Animation. It features subversive humour sure to please children and adults. It is perfect as a read aloud.

Accolades

Shortlisted for Waterstones Children's Book Prize: Picture Books Category 2012.

Author Biography

Jon Klassen has created illustrations for popular series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and served as an illustrator on the animated feature film Coraline. His illustrations for Caroline Stutson's Cats Night Out won the Governor General's Award in 2010. I Want My Hat Back is the first book he has both written and illustrated. Originally from Niagara Falls, Canada, he lives in Los Angeles, USA.