A Good Day for a Hat

The subcategory of hat-related children’s literature is extensive and august, but Fuller and Hodgson acquit themselves with style in this sweetly silly tale. Their hero, Mr. Brown, is a dapper bear who has “just the hat” for every occasion. Unfortunately, the ever-changing environment outside his home turns Mr. Brown into in a kind of millinery Sisyphus—he’s too busy changing his hats to get where he needs to go. He swaps his rain hat for a warmer one when it begins to snow, only to discover that a band is now marching by. He goes inside, returning with a marching band hat and trumpet, but now there are “magical rabbits loose on his lawn.” (In fact, the only constant besides Mr. Brown is a wand-wielding white rabbit tucked into each scene, raising the question of whether a bit of magic might be responsible for all of the chaos.) Fuller and Hodgson’s story has a naive, crafts-room look, the unstoppable momentum of a windup toy, and a punch line that’s just right (it’s Mr. Brown’s birthday, and there’s a hat for that, too). Hats off! Ages 3–5. (Mar.)