The Hat

by Tomi Ungerer

The black top hat with magic powers blew into the one-legged soldier's life, made him a wealthy man, and then blew out again.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, France, Italy, Classics, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer was a French illustrator best known for his erotic and political illustrations as well as children's books.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

How awesome would it be to have an obedient flying hat? I read this as a little kid and thought of all sorts of great uses for that hat. I also thought it would be pretty cool to have a wheel foot, although I was probably wrong about that.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical top-hat, flying off the head of the rich man who owns it, finds its way to penniless veteran Benito Badoglio, and transforms his life. Useful in any sort of crisis - saving a tourist from a falling flowerpot, capturing an escaped rare bird, flushing a band of cutthroats out of their lair - the hat brings Badoglio good luck, introducing him to his future wife, the Contessa Aspi d'Istra. As Badoglio and the Contessa head to the honeymoon, the hat once again is blown away, landing... who can say?

Unlike so many of French author/artist Tomi Ungerer's other picture-books, which were first published in German in Switzerland, The Hat was originally published in English, in New York City. It's an entertaining original fairy-tale, in which a down-on-his-luck hero is aided by a magical object. I appreciated the ending, as I think it will lead young readers and listeners to continue the story on their own, as they imagine where else the hat will travel, and with whom it will settle. The artwork, as is to be expected in a Tomi Ungerer book, is immensely engaging, communicating the humor of the story perfectly. Recommended to Tomi Ungerer fans, and to anyone looking for fairy-tale-style children's stories.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rich man's top hat blows off his head and is discovered by a poor veteran, Benito Badoglio. But the hat is suddenly magical and Badoglio is able to use its ability to fly about obeying his every command to turn his life around by doing acts of heroism.

Is this what they meant by trickle-down economics?

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

rating: 3.5

"Thunder of Sebastopole!" That's what Benito Badoglio cries out when he realizes that the top hat isn't just a fancy top hat. Now I don't know how Ungerer happened upon that expression, but I do know that the kids like it. If the name has to do with a battle, Ungerer could have used it because Badoglio is a veteran. Then, of course, I may be completely wrong, but like so many things in this book, Ungerer's word choice got me thinking (which is always good).

As a general rule, the pictures and word choices in a book by Ungerer are worth pondering (or if not pondered, they should be given a second glance).

Once kids understand the potential of the hat, they'll come up with all kinds of things they could do if it belonged to them.

[Denise Lauron · Rating 5 out of 5]

What kind of adventure could a hat cause? Quite a few. The hat changed its owner's life.

This story would be great for both an older
child reader and a bedtime story. It's a fast-paced interesting story that will keep the attention of a child and won't bore an adult who is reading to the child.

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fable about a down-on-his luck war vet who suddenly acquires a magic flying hat. The story is nothing special, but Ungerer's illustrations are as usual full of sly jokes. Not yet play-tested, but my guess is that small children would like it.

[Miranda W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this since I was a kid but sadly I don't think I ever actually read it. It's a blast and Ungerer uses some of the best exclamatory phrases I've ever come across - for instance, "Thunder of Sebastopole!" The illustrations are also a lot of fun.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another simple fablesque tale of a soldier who, down on his luck, is fortunate enough to bestowed with a magical hat whose purpose is to help him rise to fame and fortune. The story came about when Ungerer was challenged by a friend to create a story about a 'hat' after the illustrator had claimed a tale could be told easily and with anything. I would argue here that it is fortunate that Ungerer's illustrations are so rich, clever and witty and that it is this which carries this tale rather than the words or the idea.

Set in Italy, it tells the tale of Bagdolio who upon being gifted with the hat ensures that he lives a fruitful and exciting life. Ungerer stated that he wanted the book's message to be one in which, when gifted with something, you should embrace it and enjoy it to its fullest before it goes.

The scene in which the hornet scares the horse of the Contessa Aspi D'Istra is flippin brilliant.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must have read this book a bazillion times to my son - he just loved anything by this author, but this little, quite European flavored fling just tickled his fancy. The illustrations are the wonder! We checked it out of the library so many times that I finally just bought it.

[John Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomi Ungerer’s The Hat may, at first glance, appear to be a simple children’s fable—whimsical, slightly odd, and thoroughly delightful. But those who have long sought the deeper truths that animate the lives of dreamers, eccentrics, and those touched by fate will quickly recognize that this is no ordinary tale.

It begins with a top hat. Not merely an accessory, but a catalyst—a symbol of transformation, of dignity restored, and of absurdity embraced. When it flies from the head of a wealthy man and finds itself atop the rumpled crown of a down-on-his-luck veteran (likely of the Crimean War judging from his exclamations) named Benito Badoglio, the miraculous ensues. The hat, with inexplicable obedience and flair, becomes both a tool of justice and a conductor of dreams. And Badoglio becomes something of a hero. Not the loud kind, but the rare sort whose actions ripple quietly and oddly into the world, leaving everything just a bit more peculiar and far more hopeful than before. Truly, The Hat found a most fitting bearer, despite initial appearances.

The illustrations are charming and humorous, and perfectly complement the tale’s elegance.

Those who read The Hat solely as a children’s story will find themselves pleased. Those who return to it—as one inevitably must—will discover it is also a parable. About grace bestowed where merit is not obvious. About the unlikely grandeur, quiet dignity, and latent nobility that dwells within the overlooked. And most of all, about the ways in which whimsy, when allied with decency, can lead not just to love, but to legacy.

This book is highly recommended—for children, certainly, but especially for grown-ups who know better than to outgrow magic. May it encourage all readers to seek The Hat in both a physical and metaphysical sense.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you encounter a book from your childhood, it's such a nice surprise. I couldn't remember this story, but the cover tugged at that link between adult me and little freckle face me. I'm so glad I bought this and ended up still loving the story.

Isn't it great how children's books don't have to explain magic? A man (not a magician) loses his magic hat, it ends up on someone else's head, crazy things ensue, the end. Why is this hat magic? Dunno.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book from my childhood that, despite being one of the ones I know we owned (thanks Parents' Magazine Press book subscription!) it has little to no nostalgia for me. We must not have read it much. Doesn't do much for me as an adult on its own either. Story almost gave me whiplash jumping from crisis to crisis and still manages to have no real tension or excitement. Pictures have some interesting bits, but not enough to win me over.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

IL CAPPELLO di Tomi Ungerer. Un meraviglioso albo illustrato per bambini, una delle più belle storie dell'autore finalmente di nuovo in libreria in una versione con testo ad alta leggibilità. Da 7 anni <3 https://ilmondodichri.com/il-cappello/


#ilcappello #tomiungerer #altaleggibilità #biancoeneroedizioni

[Heather Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

As near as perfect a book can get. A homeless soldier stumbles across a lucky hat, and his integrity, cleverness, and kindness is revealed. Once he has used his fortune to better himself and other, the hat blows away to help another.

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

This life has had more adventures than I have, I suspect. The drawings are charming.

[Shahd Rdawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

📀 story

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The wind blew, the hat flew, hither and tithes, in loops and hoops”. Whimsical children’s book about a magical hat that changes a penniless veteran’s life.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book about a magic hat helping a war vet. There are a lot of difficult words to pronounce. Good fortune came to the man, and he tried to do good with it in return.

[Morteza Bahrami]

I wish I had a top hat as this one. Who knows maybe

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

My brother, Matthew, used to read this to me when I was little. I had almost forgotten about it. Thank you, big brother!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that's one nice hat

[Checkthebook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this aloud to groups of children and it is popular. In the story, a sentient top hat helps a down-on-his-luck man become a hero.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

again wished I had the physical book, but this was a charming classic too

[Vicki Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but I don't think we'll keep it.

[Sofía Castell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le quité una estrella por heteronormativo pero está entretenido, ¿tener un sombrero con poderes? Da best

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A magical black top-hat floats onto the bald head of Benito Badoglio, a penniless veteran. Every day that the hat accompanies Benito, it 'performs' some heroic, magical feat...stopping a flowerpot from falling on a wealthy tourist's head, rescuing a rare bird, extinguishing a fire inside a baby carriage. This magical, black hat makes Benito a wealthy man in his own right, thereby heaping riches and love upon him.

Task completed, the magical black hat floats again into the sky. Where to? Heaven only knows!

Used for "Mittens and Hats" Storytime: February, 2012.

[Paul Hankins]

"The wind blew, the hat flew,
hither and tither,
in loops and hoops."

A wind-blown hat changes the life of a poor man sitting in the park. . .

Playful language from this 1970 classic I pulled from the bins in the West Clark Community Schools warehouse.

Some of the scenarios in the book may be a little frightening or even off-putting by today's picture book standards, but it is fun to revisit these classics to see what was celebrated in story telling.

[Sydney Hall]

"The Hat" is a great multicultural book. It is heavily influenced by Spanish influences through the language and characters. This book has a lot of flowery language that might make it difficult for students to read on their own, but would be a great read-aloud book. I would use this book for an introduction into using synonyms and how authors enhance their writing through language. Also, it might expose students to words they did not know, which will enrich their vocabulary.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

youtube
Should I always be including the link?
In any case, I do so here, because this is a lovely little story. I grew up adoring Moon Man and this is the perfect companion. Both are well worth your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZXqI...