This is Not My Hat by John Klassen

Klassen, John. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston: Candlewick.

This book is about a tiny little fish that steals a big, sleeping fish's hat, thinking he can totally get away with it.  As the story unfolds the illustrations tell a different story even though the little fish is boasting about his accomplishment. In the end, he doesn't, as told by the illustrations.


Assignment #1

Visual Element - Shape

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen utilizes the visual element of shape to help tell the story. The little fish is trying to “get away with” stealing the big fish’s hat by hiding “where the plants are big and tall and close together!”  The shapes make you think that he will get away with it however the end of the book shows the big fish swimming out of the “where the plants were big and tall” with his hat.

Evaluation Criteria:  Setting

The setting of This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen is at the bottom of the sea which is made evident through the drawings and black background.  You get the sense of traveling around the ocean floor based upon the angle of the plants and bubbles behind the fish. The little fish thinks that he can hide in a particularly thick area of bushes that is created by the same shapes as the fish.  Then you see the tail of the big fish swimming the other direction with bubbles behind him. As you may guess, the big fish has his hat back and all is calm again on the ocean floor.

Teacher Activity Kit:  http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763655988.kit.2.pdf

Teaching Ideas for this book:  http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/this-is-not-my-hat