Books about Hats

Whether you are getting ready for Crazy Hat Day at school, you have a child who is wild about hats, you are doing a unit on hats or you are just a hat fan, here are 12 great books about hats. These books go very well with our Activities for Crazy Hat Day as well.

Books about Hats

The Hat by Jan Brett

Hedgie the Hedhog finds himself stuck in Lisa’s red and white sock which she had hung on the clothesline after being tucked away since the previous winter. While stuck in the sock, other animals visit Hedgie and laugh at his situation. Hedgie tries to salvage his dignity by telling the animals that this sock will keep him warm and dry all winter. When Lisa finds her sock, she removes Hedgie and tells him that animals don’t wear clothing. She then returns to the clothesline where she finds the animals wearing her gloves, scarves and sweaters on their own heads.

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

The narrator of this story- a small fish and thief- steals a blue hat from a larger fish while he is sleeping. The little fish readily confesses to the readers that he stole the hat and justifies his theft by saying, “it was too small for him anyway.” Little does the small fish know that the big fish is onto him and wants his hat back. The book ends with both fish swimming into a bed of seaweed leaving the reader to decide just how the story ends.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klaussen

Bear’s hat is gone and he wants it back. He questions all the animals he meets whether they have seen the hat. Each animal says no. But just as bear is about to give up, deer comes by and asks him a question that sparks his memory and renews his search for his hat.

A Hat for Ivan by Max Lucado

All the adults in Ivan’s village wear hats that show what they love most. Ivan’s father is the hat maker so he is able to watch his father create the perfect hat for each person. Ivan worries about what his hat will be one day, but his father reassures him that there is only one hat and one life that is just right for him and that he will find it in time.

Ruby Mae has Something to Say by David Small

Ruby Mae has one dream- to speak at the United Nations to share a message of universal peace. But Ruby Mae is tongue tied! Can a hat created by her nephew help Ruby Mae overcome her fear and make the speech?

The Magic Hat by Mem Fox

A magic hat blows into town and as it lands on each person’s head, they turn into an animal. A grumpy man turns into a toad. A mother with children turns into a kangaroo with a baby in its pouch. Then along comes a wizard who changes everyone back into their former selves and leaves a large spotted egg that hatches distracting the townspeople as he leaves. He then dons the hat and changes himself.

Do You Have a Hat? by Eileen Spinelli

This story starts with a simple rhyme about hats which then showcases the headgear of famous individuals such as Abraham Lincoln, Carmen Miranda and Johnny Appleseed.

Ho is For Hat! by William Jay Smith

A rhyming celebration of hats!

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss

When Bartholomew Cubbins comes to town selling cranberries one day, the king’s processions screeches to a halt and asks Batholomew why he hasn’t taken off his hat for the king. Bartholomew replies that he had taken his hat off and shows the king the hat he holds in his hand, but sure enough another identical hats sits upon his head. Bartholomew takes off the second cap only to find another and another and another hat on his head. The king orders all the wise men to try to solve the problem, but to no avail. Finally, the king orders the executioner to cut off Bartholomew’s head. As Bartholomew readies for his beheading, the executioner insists that he take off his hat…