The Magic Hat [Hardcover]

Mem Fox (Author), Tricia Tusa (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The titular topper of this rollicking, rhyming read-aloud is indeed magic: when it blows into town one day, it plops down on the head of resident after resident, instantly transforming each person into an animal. Each time the chapeau lands, Fox (Time for Bed) reprises the refrain, "Oh, the magic hat, the magic hat! It moved like this, it moved like that! It spun through the air!" At this point the author inserts a varying line (e.g., "Like a bounding balloon"; "For a mile and a half"), and a flip of the page reveals what animal the new hat-wearer becomes (in the above instances, a baboon and a giraffe). Kids will eagerly join in the guessing game, which Tusa's (Camilla's New Hairdo) fittingly silly, bustling ink-and-watercolor illustrations whip up into high-octane action. Her clever details add to the clues; for instance, a fruit-stand seller juggles bananas as the hat transforms him into a baboon. A supporting cast of animated children witness the zany goings-on, reacting gleefully to each transformation. These characters' unbridled enjoyment will almost certainly evoke the same response from readers. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reschool-Grade 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, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1 edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152010254
• ISBN-13: 978-1865044620
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My boy asks for it; what better recommendation than that?, August 22, 2004

By 

S. D Haynie "girlranger" (carlsbad, nm United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magic Hat (Hardcover)

My son loves to pick his own book to read. He does this by saying "no" alot until I pick up the book he wants. The Magic Hat tends to be the book he wants.
He likes the rhyme, and so do I. It's fun and repetitive, which helps him to learn what to say next (if he's going to help me read it...).
The illustrations are wild and messy and fun. All the girls are in dresses and the old men are fat and colorfully attired.
It's a fun story with a whole lot of magic in it.
This is a loved book in this house.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hat Magic Fun for Everyone....., May 13, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magic Hat (Hardcover)

"One fine day, from out of town, and without any warning at all, there appeared a magic hat." So begins Mem Fox's marvelous new picture book, and youngsters are in for a delightful treat as they watch this attractive, blue chapeau drift through the countryside, landing on unsuspecting heads and turning them into animals. Her engaging, rhyming text is full of energy, rhythm, and motion, and little ones will enjoy helping you read the repetitive lines, "Oh, the magic hat, the magic hat! It moved like this, it moved like that!..." as the hat travels on its way to a new head. Tricia Tusa's bold, bright and humorous, action-filled illustrations are full of lots of expressive detail that just adds to all the fun. With a joyous, satisfying ending that sets everything right, The Magic Hat is a magical, rip roarin', read aloud, good time that preschoolers shouldn't miss.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mem Fox is a favorite!, August 9, 2005

By 

T. Schoenberg "mom of 4" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magic Hat (Hardcover)

I had to find out why this great book got such a low rating - I couldn't disagree more with the reader from NY!
My kids aged 2, 5, & 7 all love this book, and it reads well at all their different levels. My 2 year old smiles each time the "Oh, the magic hat, the magic hat" refrain starts, and I can put alot of personality and body movement into it.
The 5 and 7 year olds both picked up on the rhyming animal ending to each page after the first read through (do they have to get it the first time for it to be a good book???), and we're discovering more of the picture details each time we read it.
With my kids across a wide spectrum of ages, it's great to have books I can depend on to keep them all interested - this is one that does it, even with repeated readings.
My only disappointment with this book is that more time isn't spent with the animal rhymes - it shifts gears halfway through, and I found myself wanting to keep going. The upshot is that the kids and I can come up with our own rhymes to make the "magic" last a little longer.