The Magic Hat

by Mem Fox, Tricia Tusa (Illustrator)

Overview

One fine day, from out of town—and without any warning at all—a magic hat appears in the sky. It tumbles and bounces through the air and makes magic wherever it lands. Everyone is delighted as, one by one, the townspeople are transformed into giant playful animals. And then a wizard arrives. . . .

With irresistible rhyming language and bright, whimsical illustrations, this perfect read-aloud by internationally acclaimed author Mem Fox will weave its way into the hearts of young children everywhere. 9 X 12. Full-color illustrations

Author Biography: Mem Fox is the author of many acclaimed books, including Possum Magic, Koala Lou, Time for Bed, and, for adults, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. She lives in Adelaide, Australia.

Tricia Tusa has illustrated several picture books including, Mrs. Spitzer's Garden by Edith Pattou and her own Maebelle's Suitcase; Camilla's New Hairdo, a Parents Magazine Best Book; and Bunnies in My Head, which features drawings by the young patients at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152057152
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	05/01/2006
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	133,414
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

MEM FOX is the author of many acclaimed picture books, including Possum Magic, Koala Lou, and Time for Bed. She lives in Adelaide, South Australia.

TRICIA TUSA has illustrated several picture books, including her own Maebelle's Suitcase; Camilla's New Hairdo, a Parents Magazine Best Book; and Bunnies in My Head, which features drawings by the young patients at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. She lives in Houston, Texas.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Broad, lively . . . will have children demanding repeated reading and completing each verse at top volume."—Kirkus Reviews

"Charming."—The New York Times Book Review

Editorial Reviews

"Broad, lively . . . will have children demanding repeated reading and completing each verse at top volume."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Charming."--The New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher

"The titular topper of this rollicking, rhyming read-aloud is indeed magic," wrote PW. Ages 3-7. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 3-A whirling, magical hat sweeps into a bustling park, transforming each adult on whom it alights into a fun-loving animal. Rhymed verses add to the humor and allow listeners to predict what will follow as the page turns. A group of delighted children takes up the path of the hat's swirling confetti, until, at last, a large, but impish wizard appears. He restores the characters to their former selves and leaves a large, spotted egg that hatches, distracting the crowd as he turns to leave. But that's not the end. Donning the hat himself, the wizard becomes a high-spirited boy, framed by starlight, kicking up sparkles. Tusa's ink-and-watercolor images dance with life (even the flowers seem to be in motion); kinetic, double-page designs spill off the pages. Add this to your favorite headpiece storytime. Children will be bursting to participate.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Hopping from head to head, a wizard's errant hat works a quick series of transformations in this giddy, rhymed episode. As gangs of delighted children look on in Tusa's (Mrs. Spitzer's Garden, 2001, etc.) populous, loosely drawn watercolors, the hat, a quirky blue number resembling an upside-down tureen, changes a crabby man into an oversized toad, a park-bench snoozer into a bear, and so on. At last, a gigantic, smiling wizard dances into the picture to reclaim it and turns everyone back to normal. Until his arrival, the last rhyming word in each verse is printed on the following page to heighten suspense, so this broad, lively successor to Tony Johnston's Witch's Hat (1984) will have children demanding repeated readings and completing each verse at top volume: "Oh, the magic hat, the magic hat! / It moved like this, it moved like that! / It spun through the air / (It's true! It's true!) / And sat on the head of a . . . KANGAROO!" (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews