I Do NOt Like Al's Hat

Reviewed by: Connie Smith - Breakwater School, Portland, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 5, 2018

Review

"I Do Not Like Al's Hat" is a simply plotted picture book for preschool through perhaps 1st grade. Herb, a rabbit, is sick and tired of being stuffed into a magician's (Big Al) hat where his ear are continually crushed and rumpled. However, Herb DOES enjoy the applause from the audiences, receiving carrots, and being in the spotlight. When Herb makes a decision to find a new job, he makes a list of possibilities: becoming a wild rabbit, a veggie farmer, or someone's pet rabbit. For one reason or another, the first two jobs are unsuitable. While reading the "Carrot Chronicle Classifieds," Herb discovers that a small girl, Sophie, is looking for a very fluffy rabbit to be her best friend. This rabbit "needs" to like playing dress-up and putting on shows. Herb applys and finds out that the two of them get along very well together. When Sophie puts on a show, Herb discovers that this is just the job for him becuase he loves audiendces, he loves carrots, and he loves being in the spotlight! The illustrations are colorful, entertaining and comlimentary to the text. "I Do NOt Like Al's Hat," is fun to read anytime, and may suggest to children that it's okay to make changes if you are not happy in order to search for something better.

Overall Book Score: very good