Hat Cat by Troy Wilson, Eve Coy
Published by Candlewick Press on February 8, 2022
ISBN: 1536213667
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Watercolor and colored pencil illustrations delightfully accompany the story of an elderly gentleman with a sweet smile. His daily life includes putting peanuts on a hat and sitting carefully as squirrels come for the nut treats. Picking up the hat from the outdoor bench one day brings a kitten into his life, obviously then named Hat. All along the story, the gentleman worries about Hat running away or chasing the squirrels if allowed outside. The worry repetitions don’t help the story and astute observers may consider the “we all get together” cover as a foreshadowing to the story’s ending. With the gentleman and a male kitten, so many uses of “he” and “him” can confuse the reader which antecedent is appropriate for that particular pronoun use. This picture book could be good for collections wanting a picture book that shows an older person, as well as caring for neighbors (Hat spends a bit of time alone with neighbors caring for him until the gentleman returns).

Reviewed by Betsey Noble, Dresden Elementary School