This is not my Hat

Klassen, J.  (2012)  This is not my hat.  Massachusetts:  Candlewick Press.

A little fish believes it is okay for him to steal a hat from a much bigger fish because it fits him perfectly.  As the thief makes his getaway to an overgrown patch of seaweed, assuming that he will never be found, he has no idea that the owner of the hat is already looking for him.  After a crab snitches on the thief’s whereabouts, the big fish finally catches up to him in the overgrown seaweed.  As the big fish later swims out of the seaweed with his hat, it is clear that the thief was apparently correct in his assumption – he will never be found.  Klassen’s black backgrounds is the perfect layout for his light-colored hued fish and seaweed as it makes the details of the characters and setting stand out.  Though early elementary will be able to comprehend the motif in this story (stealing is wrong, no matter the reasoning), upper elementary and middle grade kids will probably have a better grasp at the meaning of the text and illustrations.  And though the motif is serious, the text and illustrations (especially those of the small thieving fish) add a comical tone to the storyline.  This book is a 2013 Caldecott Medal Winner.  Here is a link to the trailer of this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhbYyEdYWY8