This is not my hat by Jon Klassen

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Klassen, Jon. 2012. THIS IS NOT MY HAT. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. ISBN: 978-0-7636-5599-0

 PLOT SUMMARY
A little fish steals a hat from a huge fish. The little fish is confident that the big fish will not catch him because the hat is too small for the big fish. He even brags that he stole it from a big sleeping fish. The little fish justifies it by saying it doesn’t fit him anyway. As he is swimming away he knows it is wrong to steal the hat so goes to a place where plants grow big and tall and close together. The fish boasts to the crab who saw him take the hat and says" he wouldn't tell anyone which way I went." But on the very next page, the crab is seen pointing the way of the little fishes’ escape route. Finally the little fish enters the plants with the big fish trailing behind. The big fish emerges from the plants with his hat on. The whereabouts of the little fish is unknown.YIKES!!!


CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this funny little story that takes place under the sea. The little fish is overconfident about stealing but ends up being confronted by the owner of the hat. The end does not show what happened to the little fish only the big fish coming out from the plants. The life lesson in this story shows that stealing is wrong and eventually someone will know. The lesson here makes it humorous but teaches children that there are consequences for actions.
The colors Klassen uses are easy for the eye of a child. He makes the big fish larger than life. He uses lots of black and browns Children will want to see what happens next (anticipation). He uses repetition on several pages, “And even if he does…”
When I read this book I implement strategies that I teach my students. 1) First time I read the book for enjoyment 2) Read it again to catch meaning and/or literary elements.
Although I have not read this book to my students I will definitely enjoy reading to them.

 REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
*Winner of the Caldecott Medal, 2012
*A Junior Library Guild Selection

 CONNECTIONS
*This story is great for predicting what will happen next and justify their prediction. It engages students in reading. One can even omit words and they can insert their own words into making their own story.
*This is a great way to teach children that stealing is wrong.