The Baby in the Hat - Hardcover

Ahlberg, Allan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763639583 ISBN 13: 9780763639587

Publisher: Candlewick, 2008

Synopsis

A simple, singsong text and child-friendly illustrations tell an amusing tale of a baby saved and an adventurous hero born.

When you've caught a baby in a hat, what else is there to do but to sail all over the world and return, with treasure in your trunk, to fall in love?
Once again, the inimitable Allan Ahlberg offers a tale full of energy and fun. Paired with André Amstutz's charming illustrations, this is a story sure to be read over and over again. And it's all true.

About this title

About the Author:

Allan Ahlberg is the author of numerous picture books, including PREVIOUSLY and THE RUNAWAY DINNER, both illustrated by Bruce Ingman; HALF A PIG, illustrated by his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg; the
Gaskitts books, illustrated by Katharine McEwen; and the popular Jolly Postman series. He lives in Bath, England.

André Amstutz has illustrated several books for children, including THE SHOPPING EXPEDITION by Allan Ahlberg. He lives in Kent, England.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2—The fortuitous catch of a baby falling from a window into a young boy's hat triggers a romp through London and beyond. The boy and his best friend spend his half-crown reward on a railway ride to the city. Once in London, he falls off a bridge in the fog, and, after a series of seafaring adventures, becomes a ship captain and eventually returns to the exact spot where he caught the baby years earlier. He sees a girl in that same window and things come full circle. The plot is slight, but the gouache illustrations, with numerous charming details, will captivate readers. The palette is largely soft blues and greens, which somehow makes the battles with pirates and exploding cannons on French warships seem almost benevolent. There is a historical quibble. Although the dress of the characters and the presence of a steam railway would place the story in 19th-century England during the reign of either King William the IV or Queen Victoria, the boy is said to have "served Good King William's army 'gainst the French." The War of the Grand Alliance with the French took place between 1688 and 1697 during the reign of King William III. No battles were fought with the French during the reign of William IV. This inaccuracy aside, children will enjoy poring over the panoramic pages, which makes the book better suited for independent or one-on-one sharing than for group presentation.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
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About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0763639583
• ISBN 13: 9780763639587
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Amstutz Andre