The Witch's Hat

by Tony Johnston, Margot Tomes (Illustrator)

When a witch's hat accidentally falls into her magic pot, all kinds of mischief results. With its jaunty pictures, this Halloween read-aloud is sure to cast a spell on young readers.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens, Magic, Witches

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 1984

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tony Johnston has written many acclaimed books for young people. She and her husband lived in Mexico for fifteen years, where they raised their children. She now lives in San Marino, California.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch's hat falls into the potion she is brewing in this entertaining tale, leading to an amusing all-over-the-house chase, as the hat transforms itself again and again, staying one step ahead of the ever-more frustrated witch pursuing it! From a bat to a rat, and thence a cat, the hat takes many disguises, abandoning each as the witch sorts it out from the real creatures amongst which it is hiding. When she finally captures it, placing it firmly on her head, it would seem that the witch has won. But the slyly smiling cauldron over which she labors has other ideas...

Engaging and humorous, The Witch's Hat pairs a narrative that gets the reader instantly involved - the alternation between the ironically detached narrator and the witch's own excited exclamations is particularly effective - with droll illustrations that emphasize the witch's growing impatience, and the hat's insouciant pranks. Margot Tomes' fans will particularly appreciate some of these scenes, which have all of her characteristic "non pretty" charm. Highly recommended to all young readers looking for simple but entertaining witchy tales!

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites to use for Halloween & Witch storytimes. A witch's hat falls into her magic pot. It turns into a bat, rat & cat as she tries to get it back. 10/31/11

Used again!

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I certainly can see the appeal in this book, particularly for its target audience of beginning picture book readers (and listeners). The story repeats, but with skill, building nicely to a good finish that readers will enjoy. Tony Johnston has very notable skills as a picture book writer.
I would give one and a half stars to The Witch's Hat.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story makes a great read-aloud with some fun repetition that the kids can join in with. I do a "Spooky Brews" storytime with my 2nd grade library students and pair this with Bone Soup.

[Erma Talamante · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny rhyming book about a witch, and her hat. As that magic hat falls in the cauldron, it takes on a life of it's own, and runs from the witch. She encounters many animals before finding her hat and firmly affixing it to her head as a hat again. Or is it?

[Maddypictures]

Funny, good story.

[Michael Guillot · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way the animals revealed themselves was hilarious. I liked that the magic pot smiled back. I vaguely remember this one, but don't think it was a regular in our house.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beloved books in our household, at Halloween or any time. Also a fun book for preschool and elementary school. Terrific for audience participation read-aloud. Not scary unless witch =automatic scary for your reader. But this witch is more hapless and exaexaminessperated than scary. Clever text by Tony Johnston and evocative illustrations from Margot Tomes that are laid out on the page in the most delightful way-- this is the kind of book from decades past that should stay on the shelves in libraries everywhere.

The premise is that the witch's hat falls into her cauldron and then, mischeviously, transforms itself into a bat, a rat, a cat-- hiding amongst the other bats/cats/rats. With each transformation, the witch examines the flock to identify the disguised hat:

The witch began to poke the rats to find her very own.
"Oooh," went a rat. "Rat," said the witch.
"Oooh," went a rat. "Rat," said the witch.
"Boo," went a rat. "Hat!" said the witch.
She grabbed for it, but--
now it wasn't a rat. Now it was a cat.
(It was a magic pot, in case you forgot.)
The cat ran downstairs like an inky streak.

The witch ran after it.
But when she reached the last stair, what was there?
Twenty seven cats from who-knows-where.
----

The excerpted text alone doesn't give a great sense of how delightfully it's paired with Tomes' artwork. Don't miss the magic spell, which is also referenced in the dedication: "my porkus, my hamus, in pink pajamas"