A Happy Hat

by Joo-Kyung Kim (Illustrator), Cecil Kim

Learning how to handle disappointments and how to bounce back when life is stressful is an important component to our psychological well-being. The happy hat in this story goes through many owners, but never stops believing that he is a special hat. A modern-day fairy tale, A Happy Hat helps show children the importance of resilience and optimism. A "Note to Parents" by Mary Lamia, PhD, is included.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2013

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to show kids that things don't have to go how we imagined them to in order to be happy. This book helped me teach my children about contentment.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars?

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hats are wonderful decorations we wear on top of our heads. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some have beads, feathers, fancy stitching's and sparkles. Others do not. Wouldn't it be interesting to see life through the experiences of a hat? There once was a happy hat with lots of stories to tell. It began as a fashionable hat that a gentlemen would wear. This hats first owner was a groom who had hopes and good wishes. The hat felt special. Time passed and the hat had become worn and placed in a second hand shop. It was then purchased y a magician. The hat felt wonderful as pigeons were pulled along with roses and wide-eyed children watching with curiosity. But as time went on the hat become more worn and finally left abandoned in a field. Would the hat ever find happiness and worth again?
This wonderful tale guides young readers to understand hope, happiness, worth, self discovery and most importantly how to maintain a positive outlook on life. Author Cecil Kim studied child psychology and plans to connect with children through his books. Parents and teachers can use this story as a tool to teach children how to maintain goals, dreams and a positive outlook.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about a hat that gets tossed aside many times only to find a new purpose in life. The parallels are clear, though not preachy. Even when life lets us down, we are still special and worth something to someone. The last few pages allow readers to fill in speech bubbles for what the hat might say. Perhaps copying these two pages for use with students that are having a tough time would be an enjoyable activity.