Rembrandt's Hat

"On what began as a fine day, a bear named Rembrandt lost his hat. He had stopped in the park to watch a clown juggle eggs, and while he was watching, a gust of wind snagged the tip of his hat and carried it away, just like that..." A good day turned suddenly bad, and even with the help of a well-meaning bird, cat, and rabbit, poor Rembrandt can't find the right replacement for his much loved and prized possession..... Susan Blackaby and Mary Newell DePalma have authored a simple, little magical tale, full of endearing characters and hats of every shape, size, and color. Ms Blackaby's gentle text, with its humorous dialogue, poses the problem. But it's Ms DePalma's vibrant and engaging illustrations that really tell the story and steal the show, and little ones will enjoy all the marvelous, expressive details found in each picture. With its satisfying, happily-ever-after ending, Rembrandt's Hat is perfect for youngsters 4-8, and a sweet lesson in patience and perseverance that shouldn't be missed

I bought 2 copies of this book and took one to my grandchildren in Virginia. 6 yr. old Charlotte listened to me read it and on each page asked me which hat I liked best. Two weeks later SHE read it to ME, needing help with only a few words.....again we chose which had we liked best on each page. Suzie is a very talented writer with a wonderful sense of humor! Children (and grandmothers) will live this! Charleen

My younger daughter is now 11 years old, so the nightly bedtime stories that I read to her for years are mostly a thing of the past, but not completely. Sometimes I'll stumble upon a children's book that is especially noteworthy, both for the story content and the illustrations, and "Rembrandt's Hat" is definitely one of those. Rembrandt himself is a sweet and unassuming bear, with gentle eyes. Losing his hat, and struggling find the right replacement, is a simple predicament that we can all relate to. His quirky animal friends all offer sincere and humorously inadequte suggestions, until Rembrandt himself solves the dilemma. Blackaby's dialogue is smart, and DePalma's illustrations will have you chuckling. We especially got a kick out of the way DePalma included little fragments of words, maps and even Chinese kanji characters on every page, with no obvious rhyme or reason behind them. "Rembrandt's Hat" is a delightful read for kids and parents alike. We give it an enthusiastic two thumbs up.

Rembrandt's Hat captures both young and mature readers. My 12 year old related Rembrandt's search for his comfortable favorite hat to his search for identity. My three year old just loved the hats - she's always losing her favorite things, so the topic tickled her. I myself loved the book (occasionally bolting from my comfy chair, yelling "cramp!") for Blackaby's witty prose. Blackaby's gentle sentences convey a world of hidden meanings. I recommend this book for all ages. Rembrandt's Hat is a classic to keep on your shelf for many coming generations.