I Want My Hat Back facts for kids
front cover of unknown edition
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| Author | Jon Klassen |
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| Illustrator | Jon Klassen |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's picture book |
| Publisher | Candlewick Press |
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Publication date
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2011 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 40 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0763655983 |
I Want My Hat Back is a popular children's picture book. It was written and illustrated by Jon Klassen. The book came out in 2011. It was the first book where Klassen did both the writing and the pictures. It is known for its surprising and a bit dark ending.
Contents
What Happens in the Story?
The story begins with a bear who has lost his hat. He is very sad about it. The bear decides to go on a journey to find his missing hat.
He asks a fox and a frog if they have seen it. Both of them say no. Then, the bear asks a rabbit. The rabbit is wearing a red, pointy hat. The rabbit quickly says no and acts very defensive. He tells the bear not to ask him any more questions.
The bear continues his search. He asks a turtle, a snake, and another creature. None of them have seen his hat. A deer then meets the sad bear. The deer asks the bear what his hat looked like.
When the bear remembers his hat was red and pointy, he suddenly realizes something. He quickly runs back to the rabbit. The bear tells the rabbit that he stole his hat.
After a page turn, we see the bear sitting down. He is now wearing the red, pointy hat. A squirrel comes by and asks the bear if he has seen a rabbit wearing a hat. The bear says no. He acts defensive, just like the rabbit did earlier. He also tells the squirrel not to ask him any more questions. The squirrel leaves, and the bear sits alone with his hat.
Beyond the Book: Adaptations
I Want My Hat Back has been turned into other forms of entertainment. This means you can enjoy the story in different ways.
Animated Film
An animated movie based on the book was made in 2013. It was created by Weston Woods Studios and Bigfott Studios. Galen Fott adapted, directed, and animated the film. Jon Klassen, the book's author, even voiced the deer character in the movie.
The animated film was nominated for an award. It was considered for the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. It also won second prize for Best Animated Short Film. This award came from the Children’s Jury at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
Stage Musical
The book was also turned into a musical play. It opened on November 12, 2015, in London. The show was performed at the National Theatre. Wils Wilson directed the play. Joel Horwood wrote the story and songs. Arthur Darvill created the music.
The musical was very popular and received good reviews. One reviewer from The Guardian newspaper praised its "inspired, homespun magic." She even said that "No one will want their cash back," meaning people would love it. The National Theatre production was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Family and Entertainment Show. This is a very important award for theatre in London.
Hat Box Set
In October 2019, the publisher, Candlewick Press, released a special collection. It was a boxed set called Jon Klassen’s Hat Box. This set included I Want My Hat Back along with two other books by Jon Klassen. These companion books are This Is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat.
