Review - You Must Bring a Hat!

You Must Bring a Hat!
by Simon Philip
illustrated by Kate Hindley
Date: 2016
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: hardcover
Source: library

“You are cordially invited to the BIGGEST, BESTEST, HATTIEST party of all time!”

Come join the fun—but only if you have a hat. AND you know the entry rules. Unfortunately, there seems to be a surprising number of those, as a young boy discovers. Will he—and the cool collection of animals he befriends along the way—ever get in? Gloriously illustrated, the art contains loads of details that serve as clues to the satisfying surprise ending. Kids will read this thoroughly hilarious cumulative picture book again and again!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

When a boy is invited to a party, he needs a hat to gain admission. Unfortunately, the only one he can find is sitting squarely on the head of a monkey... who refuses to give it up. So the boy decides to bring the monkey to the party with him (after all, the invitation didn't say the hat couldn't be on a monkey's head), setting in motion a wacky series of ever-more ridiculous rules. Apparently, badgers named Geoff aren't allowed in unless they prove they can play the piano...

Eagle-eyed readers will be able to spot the reason this crazy cascade of silliness happens in the first place (but even those who don't will enjoy the moment of revelation). The illustrations are charming, with just the right mix of whimsy and emotion. The bunnies in their underwear are especially cute. (And why are they in their underwear? There's a very good reason for that.)

This is a clever story about a boy who just wants to follow the rules and attend his friend's party... even if it takes a monkey, a badger, an elephant, and a penguin to make that happen. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes silly stories that make a weird sort of sense.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5