Hooray for Hat!
PreS-K—Everyone wakes up in a bad mood now and again, and Elephant is no exception. When the doorbell rings, he stomps down the stairs shouting, "GO AWAY! I'M GRUMPY"—the first of two refrains in the book, this one printed in large black caps. Elephant finds a surprise present: a box of whimsical hats! Putting the whole stack on his head, the now happy pachyderm shouts, "HOORAY FOR HAT!" with the second refrain in extra large multicolored caps. He goes to visit his friend Zebra, who is also grumpy. Elephant gives Zebra one of the hats, which instantly lifts her spirits. They drop in on their grouchy friends Turtle, Owl, Lion, and Giraffe, giving out hats and cheer, and becoming a veritable parade as each animal joins in on the fun. Though created digitally, Won's bold minimalist illustrations truly look like saturated watercolors, wonderfully offset by the expansive white background. The accompanying text matches the illustrations in its simplicity and formulaic repetition, making this tale a good choice for both beginning readers and for storytimes, especially if accompanied by a silly hat craft. A lighthearted celebration of friendship and sharing that does not hit the readers over the head with its moral.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY