Harold Loves His Woolly Hat

October 1, 2018
Harold, a stumpy bear with light amber fur and quizzical eyebrows, wears his red-and-yellow hat everywhere, “even in the summertime... even when he takes his monthly bath.” The hat, Kousky (The Blue Songbird) explains, helps Harold know that he is special—“different from all the other bears.” Then a crow flies off with it. “How will anyone know that I am a very special bear?” Harold proffers worms and berries and shiny objects to trade, which the crow promptly confiscates (“Cawcaw!”). The views of the crow flying off with Harold’s treats provide moments of drama, but despite Harold’s wee cuteness, he’s no shrinking violet. Not even the loneliness of the forest, whose tall, stately trees are painted in stark browns and grays, deters him, and he shouts at the crow in big, upper-case letters. Only when Harold climbs the crow’s tree does he discover the crucial use to which the hat has been put. What really changes things for him isn’t the discovery of his hat’s fate but the sudden appearance of companionship and a sense of feeling needed. Ages 3–7. Agent: Elana Roth Parker, Laura Dail Literary.

October 1, 2018
Above all else, Harold treasures his woolly hat until a crow swoops down and steals it from him.Harold the bear wears his woolly hat day and night, in winter and in summer. It makes him feel "special" and "different from all the other bears." When a crow snatches his hat, Harold desperately seeks to win back his most prized possession. Pencil-and-watercolor illustrations depict the forest setting and the conflict amid an all-animal cast of characters. Kousky captures the full range of Harold's emotions in his expressive face and body language. As the story progresses, Harold offers worms, berries, and shiny treasures in exchange for his hat. Each time, Harold grows more upset as the crow takes the offerings but only caws in reply to his plea for the return of his hat. After Harold discovers the crow's nest of baby birds, he immediately forgets his anger, asking for neither an apology nor the return of his belongings. He even pursues a friendship with the crow family. While the crow may have acted according to its nature, the abrupt shift in Harold's relationship with the crow shares the message that being a "helpful bear" is more important than personal feelings or the impact of hurtful actions.Despite the lively illustrations and a conflict readers will readily recognize, the resolution excuses unkindness to uphold a lesson about self-sacrifice and generosity. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-This delightful story deals with problem-solving and identity in an accessible and appealing way. Harold knows he is a special bear because of his well-loved woolly hat, so when a crow steals it, he has to get it back. After attempting a series of trades, Harold loses his cool and attempts to steal it back, only to discover that three baby crows are nesting inside it. At that, he realizes that he is a special (and helpful!) bear even without the hat, and helps the crow care for her babies. Harold is an appealing, expressive character, and a perfect stand-in for his maturing preschool audience. The mixed-media illustrations are spare and reminiscent of Jon Klassen's style, incorporating a mix of spot art, full-page images, and spreads. Harold has oval eyes, an oversize head, and a round nose, and his hat is large, red-and-orange striped, with a pom-pom on top. The book's trim is tall and slender, emphasizing the smallness of Harold and the height of the tree containing the crow's nest. When the little bear finally loses his temper, he suddenly fills the whole page, his face red, with his shouted words in enormous font filling the facing page. The text is spare, with not a word wasted, perfectly capturing a child's sensibility. VERDICT This selection works equally well as a group or one-on-one read-aloud, and would even be effective for newly independent readers. All libraries should make space on their shelves for Harold.-Amy Lilien-Harper, Greenwich Library, CT

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2018
Preschool-G No matter where he is?and whatever the season?young bear Harold is never without his distinctive striped, pom-pomed woolly hat, even while sleeping or bathing. That is, until Crow snatches the hat, carrying it to his treetop nest. Harold's devastated ( Now I look just like all the other bears . . . How will anyone know that I am a very special bear? ). He tries trading?worms, blueberries, even his beloved shiny objects?but Crow just takes everything and keeps the hat, despite Harold's increasingly louder and angrier requests, to which Crow simply replies, "CaCAW!" When Crow temporarily flies away, Harold risks retrieving his hat, but atop the tree, Harold makes an unexpected, sweet discovery, bringing new perspective and understanding. Kousky enlivens his charming, digitally enhanced pencil, pen, and watercolor illustrations with diverse perspectives, unconventional formatting, and judicious pops of color amid the earthy-hued forest setting. Cute, expressive Harold and his experiences and interactions with Crow nicely portray the concept that a sense of self isn't reliant on what you wear?or have?but, instead, what you do for others.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)