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Millie's Marvellous Hat
Millie loves hats, but she can't afford to buy any of the beautiful ones in the hat shop. But the shopkeeper has an idea. He produces a box containing an amazing hat with the most perfect shape and color imaginable—if Millie dares to imagine it. Millie does dare, and soon she sees not only her own marvellous hat, but everyone else's hats as well.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Satoshi Kitamura
147 books45 followersSatoshi Kitamura was born in 1956. After dropping out of school to pursue art, Kitamura decided not to attempt a 10-year apprenticeship as a potter and instead worked as a graphic artist. He was not trained as an artist, but at the age of 19 began to do commercial work as an illustrator for adverts and magazines. He moved from Tokyo to London in 1979 where he worked mainly at designing greeting cards.
Satoshi Kitamura has won several awards, including the Mother Goose Award, the National Art Library Award from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a Nestle Children’s Book Prize Silver Medal. He lives in Japan.
Satoshi Kitamura has won several awards, including the Mother Goose Award, the National Art Library Award from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a Nestle Children’s Book Prize Silver Medal. He lives in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 5, 2021
Millie wants a hat but can't afford one so the shopkeeper tells her that she can have any hat she wants so Millie imagines a hat with feathers and then lots of different hats after that.
Imagination is power and this is what the book teaches us. A fun read with charming pictures and a powerful message.
4 stars
Imagination is power and this is what the book teaches us. A fun read with charming pictures and a powerful message.
4 stars
December 12, 2016
E genul acela de carte pe care i l-ai citi și copilului tău și care te face să zâmbești, deși nu știi sigur de ce. Poate din cauza inocenței cu care Millie poate privi lucrurile din jur. Și chiar are dreptate. Toată lumea are câte o pălărie, doar trebuie să ți-o imaginezi.
May 20, 2021
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Astoundingly, after two years of complaints, GoodReads managed to correct one of the lists! I am truly delighted to be back on the Reviewers list among so many people who provide such a useful and entertaining range of reviews from serious literary criticism to casual one liners to whimsical projects.
Now, about fixing the Readers list...
***
This has a sort of reverse emperor's new clothes concept. It's delightful and charming and, well, imaginative. Also, I really like that Millie is reminiscent of Madeline. This is rather less text-heavy than some of Kitamura's other works, which allows one to focus on the art.
Library copy
Astoundingly, after two years of complaints, GoodReads managed to correct one of the lists! I am truly delighted to be back on the Reviewers list among so many people who provide such a useful and entertaining range of reviews from serious literary criticism to casual one liners to whimsical projects.
Now, about fixing the Readers list...
***
This has a sort of reverse emperor's new clothes concept. It's delightful and charming and, well, imaginative. Also, I really like that Millie is reminiscent of Madeline. This is rather less text-heavy than some of Kitamura's other works, which allows one to focus on the art.
Library copy
November 1, 2020
I think this is a fantastic book for teaching children the value of their imagination! It teaches us that imagination is free, fun and exciting, and is much more valuable than the £599.99 hat Millie had wanted to buy in a shop she passed. With her free imaginary hat, Millie can adapt her hat for how she feels, what she sees, animals she likes, food she wants to eat etc.
There are plenty of opportunities for children to design and make their own hats in art/DT, based on things important to them. Children could create story boards and create their own story, told through hats. Mood could be discussed in PSHE when thinking about the lady who has a 'dark, murky pond hat' until some birds and fish jumped into her hat, out of Millie's hat when she smiled at the lady.
There are plenty of opportunities for children to design and make their own hats in art/DT, based on things important to them. Children could create story boards and create their own story, told through hats. Mood could be discussed in PSHE when thinking about the lady who has a 'dark, murky pond hat' until some birds and fish jumped into her hat, out of Millie's hat when she smiled at the lady.
September 20, 2018
This book is very fun and great for children to to able to use their imagination and make a discussion about what hat they would have
October 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this book because it emphasises individuality as well as expressing yourself.
October 11, 2019
Millie spots an inviting shop on her way home from school and takes a step inside hoping to get hold of a colourful feathered hat. Unfortunately, hats come at a price- but imagination is free! And so, Millie's journey home becomes a lot more interesting than it was to begin with. A hat can be anything, and anyone can have one. Such a fun story that plays with the imagination, Kitamura's illustrations are bold and sharp and I really enjoyed the way he portrayed outward dispositions. Lots for children to look at and enjoy.
October 13, 2017
This is a great book for imaginative young minds. Millie imagines that her hat can be anything. She was set off by the shopkeeper in her hat imagination journey. The story alludes to the influence adults can have on young people.
May 29, 2018
This is a great homage to the power of imagination. Millie walks pasta hat shop and wants to buy a hat, but she can't afford any of the hats on display. So the shopkeeper gives her very special hat, which can be any shape she wants it to be!
July 20, 2021
Muy tierno.
September 19, 2019
Lovely story about the power of imagination and the importance of individuality. There is lots of room for discussion: Why do you think everyone's hat looks different? What would your hat look like?
January 31, 2012
Walking by a hat store, Millie is quite taken with a feathered hat she sees in the window. She tries it on, only to discover that it's too expensive! Luckily the man behind the counter has the perfect hat, it can be any size, shape, or color, you just have to imagine it. So Millie takes the invisible hat out of the hat box and begins her walk home. Millie’s hat takes all sorts of wonderful shapes and colors as her imagination is feed by the sights on the streets.
Kitamura, although not very well-known in the U.S., is very popular in Britain (hence the British spelling – Marvellous) and has more than 20 children’s books under his belt. His direct writing style saves this book from becoming overly precious and instead turns it into a remarkable adventure.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
Kitamura, although not very well-known in the U.S., is very popular in Britain (hence the British spelling – Marvellous) and has more than 20 children’s books under his belt. His direct writing style saves this book from becoming overly precious and instead turns it into a remarkable adventure.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
October 29, 2009
Another book I meant to delete from my wishlist, but forgot. And then someone got it for Maxie for her 5th birthday. I suck.
Millie wants a fabulous hat (what little girl couldn't relate?) and can't afford one, so the shopkeeper gives her a pretend one; as she walks home, she imagines it morphing into all kinds of increasingly fantastic forms. The illustrations are delicious, wavy-lined, whimsical, old-school. And hey, paean to imagination, who doesn't like that? Sweet little book.
Teeny caveat: I realize I sound like an old fart still fighting a battle that was lost millennia ago, but I wish the text didn't say "everyone has their very own marvelous hat." "EVERYONE" IS SINGLE! "THEIR" IS PLURAL! HEY YOU KIDS, GET OFF MY LAWN!
I am a grammar codger.
Millie wants a fabulous hat (what little girl couldn't relate?) and can't afford one, so the shopkeeper gives her a pretend one; as she walks home, she imagines it morphing into all kinds of increasingly fantastic forms. The illustrations are delicious, wavy-lined, whimsical, old-school. And hey, paean to imagination, who doesn't like that? Sweet little book.
Teeny caveat: I realize I sound like an old fart still fighting a battle that was lost millennia ago, but I wish the text didn't say "everyone has their very own marvelous hat." "EVERYONE" IS SINGLE! "THEIR" IS PLURAL! HEY YOU KIDS, GET OFF MY LAWN!
I am a grammar codger.
March 24, 2016
Fun and delightful. Imagine yourself your own marvellous hat. Mine has a squirrel on it.
August 29, 2022
Millie was walking home from school when she came across aMillie was walking home from school when she came across a hat shop.
There were lots of hats in the window, but the one she liked best was the one with the colorful feathers.
Millie went inside.
“May I see the hat with the colorful feathers, please?”
she asked the man behind the counter.
“Certainly, Madam,” replied the man, and he fetched the hat from the window.
Millie tried it on. It suited her perfectly.
“I’ll take it,” she said.
“An excellent choice, Madam,” said the man. “That will be five hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents.”Millie opened her purse and looked inside.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “Do you have anything a little cheaper?” “What sort of price were you thinking of, Madam?”
asked the man kindly.
“Well . . . about this much,” said Millie and showed him her purse. It was empty.
“I see . . .” muttered the man, and he looked up at the ceiling. Millie looked up at the ceiling too. It was covered with interesting patterns.
“Aha!” said the man suddenly. “I think I have just the thing for you, Madam. Wait here a moment, please.”
And away he went to the back of the shop.
A few minutes later he returned with a box in his hands.
He placed it on a table and removed the lid.
“This is a most marvellous hat, Madam,” said the man.
“It can be any size, shape or color you wish. All you have to do is imagine it.”
Carefully, the man took the hat out of the box and put it on Millie’s head. It fitted her perfectly.
“Thank you,” said Millie, “I like it very much!” She put her hand in her purse and handed the man all she had in it.
“Thank you, Madam,” said the man. “Would you like your hat in its box?”
“No, thank you,” said Millie, “I’ll take it just as it is.”
Millie felt happy in her new hat. “But now I must think what my hat is going to look like,” she thought. “Perhaps it has lots of feathers like the one in the shop window, only even more feathers . . .”
Millie stopped outside a cake shop and looked in the window. All the cakes looked delicious. So Millie had a cake hat!
Suddenly Millie saw that she was not the only one with a special hat . . .
Everyone had a hat of their own. And they were all different.
She saw an old lady who was wearing a dark, murky pond hat. Millie smiled at her and the birds and the fish leapt out of Millie’s hat and onto the old lady’s.
Millie felt like singing. And so did her hat.
By the time Millie arrived back home, her hat had grown so tall that she couldn’t walk through the door! So she
thought of another hat . . .
“How do you like my new hat?”
she asked when she saw her mum and dad.
“New hat?” said her mum. “But you haven’t . . .”
Then she stopped and smiled. “It’s a marvellous hat, Millie.
I wish I had one too.”
“But you do have one,” said Millie. “You only have to imagine it!”
And she was right.
Everyone has their very own marvellous hat.
There were lots of hats in the window, but the one she liked best was the one with the colorful feathers.
Millie went inside.
“May I see the hat with the colorful feathers, please?”
she asked the man behind the counter.
“Certainly, Madam,” replied the man, and he fetched the hat from the window.
Millie tried it on. It suited her perfectly.
“I’ll take it,” she said.
“An excellent choice, Madam,” said the man. “That will be five hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents.”Millie opened her purse and looked inside.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “Do you have anything a little cheaper?” “What sort of price were you thinking of, Madam?”
asked the man kindly.
“Well . . . about this much,” said Millie and showed him her purse. It was empty.
“I see . . .” muttered the man, and he looked up at the ceiling. Millie looked up at the ceiling too. It was covered with interesting patterns.
“Aha!” said the man suddenly. “I think I have just the thing for you, Madam. Wait here a moment, please.”
And away he went to the back of the shop.
A few minutes later he returned with a box in his hands.
He placed it on a table and removed the lid.
“This is a most marvellous hat, Madam,” said the man.
“It can be any size, shape or color you wish. All you have to do is imagine it.”
Carefully, the man took the hat out of the box and put it on Millie’s head. It fitted her perfectly.
“Thank you,” said Millie, “I like it very much!” She put her hand in her purse and handed the man all she had in it.
“Thank you, Madam,” said the man. “Would you like your hat in its box?”
“No, thank you,” said Millie, “I’ll take it just as it is.”
Millie felt happy in her new hat. “But now I must think what my hat is going to look like,” she thought. “Perhaps it has lots of feathers like the one in the shop window, only even more feathers . . .”
Millie stopped outside a cake shop and looked in the window. All the cakes looked delicious. So Millie had a cake hat!
Suddenly Millie saw that she was not the only one with a special hat . . .
Everyone had a hat of their own. And they were all different.
She saw an old lady who was wearing a dark, murky pond hat. Millie smiled at her and the birds and the fish leapt out of Millie’s hat and onto the old lady’s.
Millie felt like singing. And so did her hat.
By the time Millie arrived back home, her hat had grown so tall that she couldn’t walk through the door! So she
thought of another hat . . .
“How do you like my new hat?”
she asked when she saw her mum and dad.
“New hat?” said her mum. “But you haven’t . . .”
Then she stopped and smiled. “It’s a marvellous hat, Millie.
I wish I had one too.”
“But you do have one,” said Millie. “You only have to imagine it!”
And she was right.
Everyone has their very own marvellous hat.
August 7, 2024
📌 Crux: Borrowing from a review of this book, it is The Emperor's Clothes but flipped, and in a wonderful, enriching sort of way! I wish we all could harness our powers of imagination like Millie. 📌
Millie loves a hat, but it costs more than what she has in her purse ( it's empty ). So the owner of the shop she has walked into brings her a box which has a very special sort of hat in it - the hat that can take any shape, one only has to imagine exactly what sort of hat one would like it to be. And after that, Millie is on a roll. If you are wondering if the book will be good for littlest readers only, then your concern is legitimate. It might not appeal to a more mature audience, especially those of us who know that not everything in life can be imagined in our heads and be done with. However, if we look at the story with the perspective that imagination is not a tool to conjure solutions for our problems out of thin air, rather it is a portal into a world of possibilities. We might not have a "hat" in our box right now, at right this moment. But someday we will be in that position. Until then, won't it be a good idea to sharpen the picture of our desired "hat" in our minds? I am pretty sure it will need a lot of iterations. What we can make sure to do is not underestimate the joy that our power of imagination can bring us and others. <3
Millie loves a hat, but it costs more than what she has in her purse ( it's empty ). So the owner of the shop she has walked into brings her a box which has a very special sort of hat in it - the hat that can take any shape, one only has to imagine exactly what sort of hat one would like it to be. And after that, Millie is on a roll. If you are wondering if the book will be good for littlest readers only, then your concern is legitimate. It might not appeal to a more mature audience, especially those of us who know that not everything in life can be imagined in our heads and be done with. However, if we look at the story with the perspective that imagination is not a tool to conjure solutions for our problems out of thin air, rather it is a portal into a world of possibilities. We might not have a "hat" in our box right now, at right this moment. But someday we will be in that position. Until then, won't it be a good idea to sharpen the picture of our desired "hat" in our minds? I am pretty sure it will need a lot of iterations. What we can make sure to do is not underestimate the joy that our power of imagination can bring us and others. <3
May 17, 2024
Satoshi Kitamura's work is a world of whimsical wonders. It's about the power of imagination. It's a bit sad actually. Millie is too poor to buy a real nice hat. So the shopkeeper kindly gave a "magical invisible hat" that can be any hat she wants. And he did not say that cynically. He was serious when he said that.
So Millie walked home while imagining there were splendid hats on her head. It could be a big peacock head. It could be a layered cakes hat. It could be a flower vase hat. It could be a fountain head. And she even could see other people's imaginary hats.
My favorite was when she saw an old lady with a dark pond hat, then she smiled at her. A little fish leapt from her hat into that granny's hat. The dark pond turned into a beautiful pond and the granny was jumping happily while walking away.
I'm still guessing what was symbolized by the imaginary hats. Could it be our inner peace? Whatever it is, this is a kind of story book I want to read to my students and niece.
So Millie walked home while imagining there were splendid hats on her head. It could be a big peacock head. It could be a layered cakes hat. It could be a flower vase hat. It could be a fountain head. And she even could see other people's imaginary hats.
My favorite was when she saw an old lady with a dark pond hat, then she smiled at her. A little fish leapt from her hat into that granny's hat. The dark pond turned into a beautiful pond and the granny was jumping happily while walking away.
I'm still guessing what was symbolized by the imaginary hats. Could it be our inner peace? Whatever it is, this is a kind of story book I want to read to my students and niece.
September 16, 2024
This is a story about hats, imagined hats that one can place on their heads to make them feel good, more attuned to their environment, free, and able to express their creativity. It is a story that shows how imagination can help us overcome material challenges. Maybe you want to walk on the moon, go deep into the ocean, see how life of a different person would be like or simply wear a magnificent hat but you don't have the money or the opportunity to do so. So do as Millie does, use your imagination and add stuff to the world around you to make it more liveable. What I particularly like about this book is the fact that the adults engage in Millie's play, they never say that she is acting silly, they never break the spell. Instead, they join her and for that their day is also better. This is a reminder for all that need it that engaging in child's play is necessary at all ages.
December 31, 2023
This is such a beautiful picture book!
I’ve just read this book and it gave me a bright future and infinite possibilities.
Even if people don't have money, they can use their imagination to become various people.
Children are curious and have pure hearts, so it's great that they can become whatever they want to be just by walking around town.
The hats that appear in this picture book are the things that people imagine in their lives.
That what you imagine becomes reality.
I picked up the picture book because it had a pretty cover, but I couldn't have imagined how beautiful the story was.
This picture book is great for parents and children to read together, or for adults to relax and read with a cup of tea in hand.
I’ve just read this book and it gave me a bright future and infinite possibilities.
Even if people don't have money, they can use their imagination to become various people.
Children are curious and have pure hearts, so it's great that they can become whatever they want to be just by walking around town.
The hats that appear in this picture book are the things that people imagine in their lives.
That what you imagine becomes reality.
I picked up the picture book because it had a pretty cover, but I couldn't have imagined how beautiful the story was.
This picture book is great for parents and children to read together, or for adults to relax and read with a cup of tea in hand.
October 14, 2018
If you could design your own hat, as big and beautiful and fantastical as you can imagine, what would it look like? What would it tell the world about you? Would your hat say that you are funny? Kind? Adventurous? Would your hat say that you are Happy? Grumpy? Sad? Would it show the world your favorite colors? Would it say that you like animals, flowers, donuts, music? Would it say that you are sleepy, hungry, excited?
This is just the sort of problem Millie faces in “Millie’s Marvelous Hat”. Millie spies a beautiful, feathered hat in a shop window. She tries it on. It is perfect. But, she has no money to pay for the beautiful hat. The kind salesman has just the solution. He presents Millie with an imaginary hat. Millie is delighted. She exits the store with a world of possibilities for her new hat. What should it be? She imagines a feathered hat even more whimsical than the one she admired in the shop window. It is a peacock hat! Anything is possible in your imagination. Then she passes a bakery and discovers she can change her hat whenever she wishes. Suddenly she is wearing a yummy cupcake hat. It is not long before she notices everyone has their own special hat.
MY girls, 2 and 4, really enjoyed this book. My two-year-old liked the whimsical hats. My four-year-old enthusiastically imagined what her own hat would look like.
This is just the sort of problem Millie faces in “Millie’s Marvelous Hat”. Millie spies a beautiful, feathered hat in a shop window. She tries it on. It is perfect. But, she has no money to pay for the beautiful hat. The kind salesman has just the solution. He presents Millie with an imaginary hat. Millie is delighted. She exits the store with a world of possibilities for her new hat. What should it be? She imagines a feathered hat even more whimsical than the one she admired in the shop window. It is a peacock hat! Anything is possible in your imagination. Then she passes a bakery and discovers she can change her hat whenever she wishes. Suddenly she is wearing a yummy cupcake hat. It is not long before she notices everyone has their own special hat.
MY girls, 2 and 4, really enjoyed this book. My two-year-old liked the whimsical hats. My four-year-old enthusiastically imagined what her own hat would look like.
October 20, 2018
I am biased! I do love this author and the influence of the Japanese culture on his books. In addition, the messages he want to share in each book are intense, meaningful and thought-provoking.
I would like to have a collection of his books on the shelves of my future classroom.
Mille does not give her desires up and through her imagination she watches the world as only children are able to do. Moreover, she also has the power to help adults to see life as she does.
Shared reading would be an amazing experience, but I would also suggest an activity where children write how they would persue their own desires exploiting their imagination.
I would like to have a collection of his books on the shelves of my future classroom.
Mille does not give her desires up and through her imagination she watches the world as only children are able to do. Moreover, she also has the power to help adults to see life as she does.
Shared reading would be an amazing experience, but I would also suggest an activity where children write how they would persue their own desires exploiting their imagination.
June 29, 2017
Paired with an empty purse and an empty box for props in storytime. It was a nice touch to pull out the imaginary hat to put on my head! The illustrations are beautiful and I love the encouragement to use your imagination. I personally loved it, my storytime audience enjoyed it well enough but I was hoping it would be a bigger hit.
I had a hat outline printed on cardstock ready to be colored and decorated with scraps of colorful paper, tissue paper, feathers, and other little odds and ends that accrue in any regularly used craft room.
I had a hat outline printed on cardstock ready to be colored and decorated with scraps of colorful paper, tissue paper, feathers, and other little odds and ends that accrue in any regularly used craft room.
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June 14, 2021„Minunata pălărie a lui Millie” – o poveste surprinzătoare, plină de voioșie și creativitate, însoțită de ilustrații luminoase, vesele și cu contururi distincte – ne spune cum o fetiță, pe nume Millie, se îndrepta spre casă când o vitrină plină cu pălării îi atrage atenția. Fetița intră în magazin și, după ce află prețul exorbitant al pălăriei alese, îl atrage pe vânzător într-un joc pe cât de copilăresc pe atât de creativ.
Mai multe despre această carte aici:
https://cartipentrumatei.ro/2020/12/1...
Mai multe despre această carte aici:
https://cartipentrumatei.ro/2020/12/1...
November 17, 2021
Oh I can never get bored of reading children's books. :D
This scene, lmao. So cute yet funny.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “Do you have anything a little cheaper?”
“What sort of price were you thinking of, Madam?” asked the man kindly.
“Well . . . about this much,” said Millie and showed him her purse. It was empty.
“I see . . .” muttered the man, and he looked up at the ceiling.
Millie looked up at the ceiling too.
This scene, lmao. So cute yet funny.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “Do you have anything a little cheaper?”
“What sort of price were you thinking of, Madam?” asked the man kindly.
“Well . . . about this much,” said Millie and showed him her purse. It was empty.
“I see . . .” muttered the man, and he looked up at the ceiling.
Millie looked up at the ceiling too.
September 28, 2020
When Millie cannot afford the wonderful hat she sees in the store window, the salesman "sells" her an imaginary hat that becomes a peacock, a cake, a fountain, and other things on her walk home, where she realizes that "Everyone has their very own marvellous hat." I love this story, and the wonderful illustrations. I would use this for imagination story times in my class.
September 22, 2020
I loved this book! When Millie can't afford to buy a hat, she imagines one instead. It encourages children to use their imagination even when adults cannot see what they see. You could spend time looking at the illustrations for hours!
September 22, 2020
Millie wants a hat but doesn't have any money- so decides to buy an imaginary hat (with her imaginary money) and teaches her parents how everyone can have an imaginary hat too. Really sweet story with great illustrations and a good message for children.
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June 17, 2022Millie can't afford the hat she wants to buy so the shopkeeper gives her a magical hat (called your imagination) that can be any hat she wants. It is fun to see the hats she dreams up. It teaches kids to use the same imagination...
September 22, 2018
An imaginative story which sees Millie using her imagination about her new hat and the hats of those around her. Beautifully illustrated and a lovely concept.
October 12, 2018
Love this book, great for showing children just how fun it is to have a creative imagination!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews