Review - Hats Are Not for Cats!

Hats Are Not for Cats!
by Jacqueline K. Rayner
Date: 2019
Publisher: Clarion Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Are hats for cats? A big, bossy dog and a determined cat disagree. This funny rhyming romp—with a large cast of cats and hats—leads readers to the perfect conclusion: hats are for everyone!

A big, severe, plaid-hat-wearing dog insists that the small black cat in the red fez shouldn't be wearing a hat—any kind of hat—because hats are for dogs. His patronizing tirade doesn’t convince this cat, however. Defiantly, she wears an assortment of hats, described in the gleeful rhyming text, and brings in other cats to join the protest. The silliness of both text and pictures offers a cheerful take on bossiness and managing conflict, with a win-win resolution.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is just plain goofy... but in a good way. A bossy dog spends much of the narrative telling a cat that cats don't wear hats. And the cat seems to be trying to prove the dog wrong by wearing everything from shower caps to sombreros! Eventually, the cat has had enough and fights back... much to the chagrin of the dog. But there are enough hats for everybody, so this one ends on a happy note.

There's really not much story, and the rhyming text is clunky at times... but the pictures are so silly and fun that you can't help but be sucked in. I'm sure kids will love looking at all the wacky hats that the cat wears throughout the book.

This is a great example of a simple premise done really well. There's not much of a moral, a message, or even a story. But it's got animals wearing goofy hats. What's not to love?

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5