Hold on to all of your hats at once for this special collection of Jon Klassen's celebrated hat trilogy.
The bear's hat is gone, and he wants it back. A fish has stolen a hat; will he get away with it? Two turtles have found one hat, but the hat looks good on both of them. . . . Jon Klassen's deliciously deadpan hat tales continue to surprise and delight readers of all ages, and they are all now available in one impeccably designed boxed set along with a free frameable print. Included are:
I Want My Hat Back This Is Not My Hat We Found a Hat
Jon Klassen received the 2010 Canadian Governor General’s Award for his illustrations in Caroline Stutson’s Cat's Night Out. He also created illustrations for the popular series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and served as an illustrator on the animated feature film Coraline (2009). 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.
It’s the dark humor for me lol. The first two books I was like wait did I read that right?? lol. The third one was friendlier. 3 short books, good for bedtime. Maybe. Idk I don’t have kids so I’m not sure how sensitive we’re supposed to be.
This is such a perfect box set for anyone who loves the Hat Trilogy of books or who is new to them! This box set comes sealed in shrink wrap plastic which is good as this protects the actual box which is matt in texture like the hardback books inside it, and it’s such a good quality box that it feels special in itself. The box is sturdy and reinforced by a double layer and holds three hardback books of the hat trilogy as well as a special frameable print. I have to say I love the illustration on the box, the three characters on the front and what happens if you turn the box around and view it from its back!
Each of the books is about A4 in size and all have matt hardback covers as well as thick matt pages inside each book. The books are ‘I Want My Hat Back’, ‘This is Not My Hat’ and ‘We Found a Hat’ which are all very funny and I’ve left little mini reviews below of each of them. Every book is hilarious with the first one being a brilliant one to begin the hat trilogy and the last being a favourite of mine as it’s the first I actually read of the series, and I love the way it ends compared with the ending of the first two.
The first two books have stickers on them which are awards they have won, ‘I Want My Hat Back’ has the Theodor Seuss Giesel Honor and ‘This is Not My Hat’ has the Caldecott Medal. These stickers are particularly nice to look at too, embossed with detailed images just making these books feel that much more special to hold. Each of the hardback books also features no blurb on their backs making these slightly different from the ones you’d buy seperately which always makes books feel special to me!
Each of the books has Jon Klassen’s classic style of illustrations and humour which I love. They look like a combination of shapes, a bit like in block printing, that have been collaged onto the background. The colours in all the books aren’t too bright but it doesn’t take away anything from the stories and in fact they are all so fun and funny to look at. I love the character’s expressions especially their eyes which are sometimes the only thing that changes the mood and expression on the pages. Each of the illustrations is accompanied by brilliant stories that are both silly and fun to read.
The frameable print is between A5 and A4 in size and comes from the book ‘I Want My Hat Back’. It’s signed by Klassen at the bottom and is on thick card. I’ve loved the stories so much and just love his illustrations that I’m currently planning on where to hang this!
This whole box set make the perfect gift, not only for Christmas but all year around. It feels so special to get all three books in hardback format, with an additional print and in a box that’s extra sturdy and special to hold. I think plenty of children will love this as will many adults who read the stories and admire the illustrations along with the kids! A brilliant box set I’d recommend.
THE BOOKS (individual reviews for these books will appear on this blog soon, click the names of the books below to read any already available):
-I Want My Hat Back – The bear has lost his hat but he wants it back so he asks every animal he sees if they’ve seen his hat. Everyone says no but there’s something suspicious about the rabbit he meets. This was hilarious in it’s repetition and has a very funny ending.
-This is Not My Hat – The little fish has just stolen a hat from the big fish who was sleeping, but it’s alright, he thinks, because the big fish won’t wake up for a long time, and won’t know who took his hat, except maybe he does. This has a similar ending to the first book although it’s more of a shock ending which may not sit well with some kids, although still funny.
–We Found a Hat– Two turtles in the desert find a hat, it looks good on both of them, but there is only one hat and two of them so what will they do? This is still a favourite of mine due to how funny it is and how lovely the ending is. -Thanks to Walker Books/Candlewick Press for a free copy for review.
Прекрасна трилогія книжок-картинок про капелюхи від канадського художника Джона Классена. Небагато тексту на сторінках, тож підійде для дітей, які тільки почитають читати. Ілюстрації мінімалістично-милі. Кожна історія наповнена своєрідним авторським гумором і всі вони мають чітку мораль: не кради.
The illustrations in the three books within this box set are really beautiful, but the tone is actually what makes them great.
Whilst the three books, "I Want My Hat Back" and, "This Is Not My Hat" and, "We Found A Hat" are standalone stories of a bear hunting for his hat, a fish trying to hide a hat-theft and two turtles deliberating over a hat that they both badly want, they do actually feel like a cohesive three-part story - I can see why they've been included in a gift box together.
Naturally the hat is the talking point of each book, but the moral dilemma is really key here. The bear is naive, grieving for his lost hat and hopelessly trusting of the true hat thief, the fish is wondering if he's really going to get away with his theft, and if he really wants to, whilst the turtles don't want to upset each other and dream up a compromise. It feels like a really nice, almost old-fashioned moralistic story with real heart; it's also quite funny.
My lower rating comes from the simplicity of the presentation. I really like the illustrations, but I wish there had been more design consideration for each page. You could argue the illustrator has used empty space to their advantage, making alternate use of the white of the page, but it doesn't work for me even if it is clever. I prefer engaging, almost busy, illustrations which tell the story for the author as much as the words do.
A cute three book box set I think children will love.
ARC provided free from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review.
This is a beautiful boxed presentation of the wry and though invoking Hat stories by Jon Klassen. The books included are: I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, and We Found a Hat, and a print of that scruffy bear, rabbit and the sought after hat. The engaging watercolor illustrations are enough to tell the story. It’s all in the subtle expressions and side-eyed glances. Each page builds up to the surprise, ending and the wry expressions of the characters add to the slightly racy humor. These are intricately crafted stories of cause and effect and fit in along side Aesop’s Fables. They each have something to teach. There is nothing wrong with a book that does not tie itself up with a pretty bow at the end. Some stories are sassy and these are some of the best! This would make a great gift for the holidays!
Total splurge from our baby gift registry (thank you James K!) and it doesn’t disappoint. Love the play between text and pictures in this disjointed trilogy. I’m really looking forward to my son getting all the jokes. This edition also comes with an 8x10 print of the bear and hatted rabbit, you know the page. (“I HAVE seen my hat.”) Framing that shit asap.
An AMAZING collection of the three epic books by Jon Klassen- THE HAT TRILOGY! I loved the books, and this box set comes with special edition of the three books, full cover art and no blurb, and an EXCLUSIVE Print by Jon Klassen. LOVED it.
I really like we found a hat and I want my hat back. I want my hat back has a kind of cruel, dry humor. Didn't quite expect the ending. And we found a hat is kind of sweet, I love the way the resolve the situation, having only one hat for two friends.
10/10 amazing!! These books are hilarious, witty and such a good read. I’d give it another award if it didn’t already have one, 🏆for “best books for parents.”