Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard (Author), James Ransome (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Sunday afternoons are special for Sarah and Susan because that's when they visit Aunt Flossie -- she has a memorable collection of hats, each with a special story.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For Sarah and Susan, a visit to their great-great-aunt Flossie is a literal and figurative feast. After tea and cookies, and before crabcakes, they are permitted to look through Aunt Flossie's prodigious collection of hats and try on their favorites. "Each hat has its story," says Aunt Flossie, as she relates tales of the old days--the big Baltimore fire, the parade at the end of WW I and, best of all, a story the girls can help tell because they are in it. This is an affecting portrait of a black American family and of the ways in which shared memories can be a thread, invisible yet strong, that ties generations together. Howard's ( Chita's Christmas Tree ) quiet, sure telling is well matched by Ransome's ( Do Like Kyla ) art--elegant, expressive oil paintings that convey warmth, joy, tenderness and love. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- On Sunday afternoon, two little girls visit their Great-great-aunt Flossie, whose house is full of books, pictures, and "boxes and boxes and boxes of HATS," each of which has a story to go along with it. A woolly winter hat still smelling faintly of smoke was worn by Aunt Flossie when, as a child, she witnessed the great Baltimore fire. The dark blue one with a red feather was perched on her head when, as a young woman, she watched a parade welcoming home black veterans of World War I. These reminiscences paint an interesting portrait of regional African-American history, but the highlight of the book is the girls' favorite story, which features themselves and the day the wind blew Aunt Flossie's best Sunday hat into the river. Based on Howard's memories of her own feisty, 98-year-old aunt, this is a lyrical, entertaining story that rings with authenticity. Ransome's distinguished oil paintings are gorgeous, but frustratingly dark at times. A compelling book that will draw readers back again and again. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 31 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (March 18, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395546826
• ISBN-13: 978-0395546826
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,530,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Developing a hatbox project, December 9, 1999

By 

Michele L. Howell (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) (Hardcover)

I first bought this book as a requirement for an elementary education course. When it was time for me to develop a back pack project (take home activity projects) for my students...this one was soooo easy to use. I made mine a "hatbox project." Since the girls in the story, Sarah and Susan, visit Aunt Flossie and listen to her tell the history of her hats, I had my students take home a hatbox full of art supplies and a hat. Each student had to decorate a hat that represented themselves. Then, they had to write the history of their hats and share it with their classmates. It was a great success!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful door for children to enter the idea of the past., September 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) (Hardcover)

I read this book to my fourth grade class as an introduction to our study of history. It began a great discussion about the past, what people remember, and why. We also talked about families and how we are connected to each other. The book beautifully illustrates how a family history develops from the stories we tell each other. It's a book to be shared with the children you care about.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars warm and endearing, May 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) Book & Cassette (Carry Along) (Paperback)

I am a mother of an 2yr old boy and a 4yr old girl. They both love this story. The audio tape is done very well and it really captures the sounds and emotions of each event Aunt Flossie's recalls. My children have there own tapeplayer and they play it over and over. My husband and I like the music in the story so we don't mind the children's constant replay.

I highly recommend this book to any one who enjoys an great story from a special aunt. I strongly recommend the book and tape for littles ones who love repettion and parents who don't.