Brimsby's Hats
*Starred Review* Brimsby sits in his little cottage making hats while sharing tea and conversation with a good friend, until the fellow moves away. Now working in silence each day, Brimsby realizes that he’s lonely. He walks for miles through the falling snow until he finds a tree with seven little birds. Busy shoveling out their nests and keeping the fires lit in their tiny stoves, they’re too busy to hear his “Hello.” Brimsby goes back home, works all night, and returns with seven of his hats, which he has cleverly modified to include doors and heating vents. Placing one on each nest, he converses with the grateful birds, who become his friends. In his first picture book, Prahin offers a gentle story with amiable characters, real problems, and satisfying solutions. The digital artwork reflects the tone of the precisely worded text as well as its understated wit and verve. With clean, spare lines in the outdoor scenes, intriguing details in the interiors, and unusual color combinations throughout the book, the illustrations create a distinctive world for the characters to inhabit. Fine for reading aloud, this quiet charmer of a picture book is an inspiration for creativity, problem solving, and making friends. Preschool-Grade 2. --Carolyn Phelan