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I Do Not Like Al's Hat: A Funny and Irreverent Story About a Rabbit Who Finds Friendship for Kids
Herb the magician’s rabbit loves the attention, the applause, and the carrots that are thrown on the stage every night by his adoring audience. But Herb does not like being stuffed into Abracadabra Al’s hat and—Presto!—being pulled out by his ears. Ouch!
Finally fed up, Herb quits his job as a magician’s rabbit and sets out to look for a new profession. Should he become a carrot farmer? Try his luck as a wild rabbit? Or take a risk and become a girl named Sophie’s pet rabbit?
Finally fed up, Herb quits his job as a magician’s rabbit and sets out to look for a new profession. Should he become a carrot farmer? Try his luck as a wild rabbit? Or take a risk and become a girl named Sophie’s pet rabbit?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 24, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 2, 2017
Herb has had enough with his life as a magician's rabbit. All that time in the dark, he is left to receive applause and carrots, though remains somewhat bored by the repetition. When he ventures out to find a new job, he is baffled at what he might be able to do. However, he finds the perfect position... one that will keep him happy for a long time to come. Neo wondered if rabbits can actually choose their jobs or if magicians simply pick a rabbit from a store and leads them into a life of clapping and bunches of carrots.
February 17, 2017
some picture books are plot driven some are character driven and some are illustration driven. This is the latter, almost to the point of it being better as wordless.
January 8, 2020
Herb the rabbit, tired of having his ears grabbed by Al the magician during his signature magic trick, decides to leave his job as magician's assistant, and look for another occupation. After considering the life of a wild rabbit - too insecure! - and a vegetable farmer - too much work! - he settles on pet rabbit. Answering an advertisement in the Carrot Chronicles, he meets Sophie, a little girl whose ideas of fun match his own...
This debut from author/illustrator Erin McGill - I believe she may have illustrated some other titles, but I Do Not Like Al's Hat is the first picture-book she has both written and illustrated - has an amusing premise, and quirky mixed media illustrations, so I was expecting to be utterly charmed by it. Unfortunately, something about it just didn't work for me. Perhaps I expected to find Herb a more endearing character, given the sympathy I felt at first for his poor ears? Having recently had to deal with the goldfish "fallout" from a magician's act - after using quite a few hapless creatures in his act, he abandoned them, instructing the staff at work to flush them down the toilet** - I am keenly aware of the ways in which such performers misuse living creatures in their work. That said, I felt the narrative focus here was rather scattered, and that the story squandered the initial emotional involvement that the opening scene evoked. Whatever the case may be, although the story here wasn't a complete hit with me, I did find McGill's artwork appealing, and will be interested to see what she does in the future.
**Although we did no such thing, most of the fish died regardless, as we didn't have the right equipment to keep them alive. One, Pippin, survived and is currently thriving in a proper tank, which we were forced to buy, in order to give him a proper home.
This debut from author/illustrator Erin McGill - I believe she may have illustrated some other titles, but I Do Not Like Al's Hat is the first picture-book she has both written and illustrated - has an amusing premise, and quirky mixed media illustrations, so I was expecting to be utterly charmed by it. Unfortunately, something about it just didn't work for me. Perhaps I expected to find Herb a more endearing character, given the sympathy I felt at first for his poor ears? Having recently had to deal with the goldfish "fallout" from a magician's act - after using quite a few hapless creatures in his act, he abandoned them, instructing the staff at work to flush them down the toilet** - I am keenly aware of the ways in which such performers misuse living creatures in their work. That said, I felt the narrative focus here was rather scattered, and that the story squandered the initial emotional involvement that the opening scene evoked. Whatever the case may be, although the story here wasn't a complete hit with me, I did find McGill's artwork appealing, and will be interested to see what she does in the future.
**Although we did no such thing, most of the fish died regardless, as we didn't have the right equipment to keep them alive. One, Pippin, survived and is currently thriving in a proper tank, which we were forced to buy, in order to give him a proper home.
February 16, 2017
I really liked this one. I didn't know why we didn't like Al's hat, but when I opened the book to the first page, I discovered why. He's in a magician's hat--duh, of course he doesn't like it! I really enjoyed the illustrations in this as well as his journey to find a new "job." There was an uh-oh moment for me when I thought he might end up back in a magician's hat, so I enjoyed the ending that was.
February 7, 2017
There seem to be an abundance of picture books about magicians lately. I liked Herb, the rabbit MC in this one. He is unhappy in his life onstage, so he weighs the pros and cons, and looks for another job. The ending may be a bit predictable, but the humor, the tight prose, the inventive illustrations, and the hidden details make this a cute book to read and reread. Friendship, fun, and laughter. . .it's magical.
December 28, 2017
Herb the Amazing Hare loves the spotlight, the applause, and the carrots, but he HATES being pulled out of Abracadabra Al's hat. It hurts his ears. He packs up his carrots and heads out to find a new job, but what other jobs are out there for a rabbit?
The illustrations are colorful and fun. This would work well in a storytime for older kids talking about jobs or making friends. I don't know that it would work well for the younger crowd, though.
The illustrations are colorful and fun. This would work well in a storytime for older kids talking about jobs or making friends. I don't know that it would work well for the younger crowd, though.
July 7, 2017
Terrible story. AWFUL illustrations. (Sad little bunny with bandages on his ears from being pulled out a magician's hat too many times!) *Insert sad/crying child when they see this. Not worth the paper it is printed on.
February 21, 2017
Sweet story about finding a new friend. The collage illustrations are very interesting.
January 8, 2018
Not crazy about the illustrations, but a cute story
January 29, 2019
This book was very east to stay interested and the bright pictures make the pages keep my attention. I recommend this book and I think it classifies as an example of a children's picture book.
September 18, 2019
This is a funny book!
January 11, 2020
Magicians over time lose their wow factor. So did this book. However, the illustrations kept me turning the pages.
October 9, 2021
A rabbit who lives in a magician's hat decides he wants a different job and sets out to find one. Preschool and up
August 27, 2025
When Herb the rabbit decides his ears can't take any more of being pulled out of Al's hat, he takes to the road to see what new job he can find.
February 2, 2017
A fun and engaging (and silly) animal adventure.
February 6, 2017
Interesting art but not much of a story.
March 8, 2017
Herb is a magician's rabbit, and he is ready for a new job. So, he scours the town for a place for himself and finds a place where he is happy. The illustrations are presented in collages and sometimes have quite a bit going on compared to what is happening in the text.
February 28, 2017
I feel like we were missing a page explaining why Herb didn't like Al's hat? I can guess why, but my toddler sure can't.
February 21, 2017
This is kind of a fun story about a magician's rabbit who's fed up with being pulled out of a hat by his ears. After sitting down and thinking through his options, he answers an ad to be Sophie's pet and best friend. The choice is clear, and the reader learns that sometimes it's best to make a change in life when your current situation isn't working for you. Cut paper collage illustrations help make this a cute picture book.
February 23, 2017
This book got good reviews and seemed cute from the summary, but I was a bit disappointed.
February 16, 2017
A rabbit looks for a new job. The language is very basic, but the life situations are way too adult. Not a good fit for the intended age group.
February 10, 2017
Unappealing art, thin story.
February 24, 2017
After one too many magic shows, Herb the rabbit is ready for a different job. With bandages on his ears (please don't pick rabbits up by their ears), Herb considers his options - wild rabbit, farmer, pet rabbit. After weighing the pros and cons of each, Herb answers an advertisement in the paper and decides to be 4-year-old Sophie's pet rabbit. And after a fabulous day together, they live happily ever after (presumably).
This is a quick read with bright, collaged artwork. I particularly liked the rabbit protestors on the last page who are picketing against hats and ear-pulling. But the expectations it sets up for rabbits as pets - that they'd be good companions for an active toddler - are a little unrealistic. Also, easy o the carrots! :)
This is a quick read with bright, collaged artwork. I particularly liked the rabbit protestors on the last page who are picketing against hats and ear-pulling. But the expectations it sets up for rabbits as pets - that they'd be good companions for an active toddler - are a little unrealistic. Also, easy o the carrots! :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2017
magician's rabbit decides to retire and start a new life.
February 6, 2017
Being a rabbit owner I really liked this book. Rabbit is tired of being a magician's rabbit so he looks for a new job. It would be a good elementary storytime read for a rabbit theme.
January 26, 2017
The rabbit in a magician's hat is fed up and decides to leave his life behind. With sore ears he sets out to find a new home.
January 26, 2017
Didn't care for the story or illustrations.
January 29, 2017
Love this tactile, collage-y, loose-limbed art.
August 23, 2017
One of our daughter's favourite books right now. Every time she gets to the last page she starts to laugh and starts reading me all of the signs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews