The Magic Straw Hat

by Karen Jonice Bricker

The Magic Straw Hat is the story of a little girl named Caitie, who takes us on a journey full of adventure and excitement as she discovers her great-grandmother’s straw hat, and the magic it brings along for the ride. Drawing from her Irish roots and family memories, Karen Jonice Bricker combines the real experiences of three generations of women to tell the story of one enchanted afternoon.

Like her great-grandmother’s arrival in America, Caitie faces many ups and downs, but she ultimately discovers a new-found hope, and a special friend. Join Caitie as she learns the true magic of her great-grandmother’s straw hat, and reveal a little true magic of your own.

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2013

About the author

For Karen Jonice Bricker, storytelling was a regular nighttime occurrence when her children were young. If a story became a favorite, Karen would receive a “two thumbs up,” and the story would then be repeated time and time again. Now, Karen brings the stories to readers of all ages.

A former early childhood and dance teacher, Karen now practices physical therapy and lives in Southeastern Massachusetts, with her husband and kooky, but caring cat, Shadow. Although busy being 20-somethings and testing out different zip codes, her two toughest critics always make a point to come back for a live storytelling session (and maybe a home-cooked meal).

When she’s not writing, Karen enjoying spending time with her family, biking, kayaking, dancing, checking out the latest off-broadway show and planning her next trip. Karen is a recipient of an Indie Excellence Award, and a 2020 Story Monster Approved Winner for her children's books.

Reviews

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming tale is about a special bond between a grandma and her granddaughter, magic, and hope. The author creatively weaves her own family's Irish history into the narrative as she shares the story of Caitie, a young girl who learns about her great-grandmother's straw hat and the adventures it has experienced. Caitie learns that her great-grandmother came from Ireland to America and being talented and resourceful she starts selling her pies because it is the one thing she is very good at...baking mouth watering pies. Her signature "prop" was her straw hat and everyone knew who she was because of it. She was convinced that that hat was magical so it was a constant in her attire.

Caitie proudly wears her great-grandmother's hat one afternoon and in so doing she discovers first hand the magic that is locked inside. She learns valuable lessons about taking care of a cherished family heirloom and being responsible so that it can be protected always.

Unfortunately, the wind picks up and whisks the coveted hat off of her head and although always in her sight it is always out of her reach. She tries desperately to recover the treasured chapeau but to no avail. Feeling down and broken-hearted she returns to her grandmother to tell her what has transpired. Will the hat be recovered? Will the true magic in the hat ever be revealed to Caitie? How will grandma respond to her news that the beloved hat is indeed gone? Oh my!

This book will take the reader on a whirl-wind adventure and is a wonderful read-aloud and a compelling read for beginner readers. It highlights the importance of one's family history and the joy of having grandparents around to share that history with. I especially loved the illustrations. They were soft and tender and very expressive. I highly recommend this book.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitie and her grandmother are getting ready to plant seeds in the garden. Caitie wants to wear Grammy's treasured straw hat and she lets her. As they work, Grammy tells her about her great-grandmother Delia who wore the hat when she came from Ireland. This special gift from her sister, Katherine brings her luck and a little bit of magic. She wears it when she sells her pies to make a living in the new country. Caitie is very careful with the hat because she knows how much Grammy cares about it. When Caitie goes to the neighbours to show him the magic hat, the wind catches it and it blows away. It seems no one is able to catch the hat. Caitie finally wishes the hat would return to her, but goes home sad, thinking she has to tell Grammy she lost the hat. The results of her wish are magical. This delightful story is beautifully illustrated. I'm sure young children will love the pictures and the bit of magic that comes with the story.

I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story and I loved the illustrations. While reading this book, I thought about my own grandparents and great-grandparents and family stories that I can share with my children. I loved it that the book included the story of Great-Grandma Delia coming to America from Ireland and receiving the hat from her sister. Grandma baked pies to sell and wore the hat when she took them to the bakeries. Grammy showed the hat to her granddaughter, Caitie, and shared the history with her. I would love to read more books from this author.

[Beth Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story and illustrations! A must have for your child’s library

[Nayuleska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried a little before I even read the story because the acknowledgements were extremely sweet and ones I could relate to. The tale itself is a fun one, with full colour pictures throughout the book, looking both at the past and the present. Caitie is a sweet girl, and reminded me of myself when I wanted to take certain items with me out the house but, unlike Caitie, I wasn't allowed.

I thought Caitie was doomed at one point to get into trouble for not taking better care of the hat (even thought she wasn't entirely to blame for what happened), but it does end very well for her in the end. It's a feel good story which I'll be rereading when my life needs a bit of magic in it.

I received a copy from NetGalley for review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co...

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitie and Grammy are getting ready to plant seeds in Grammy's garden, and Caitie wants to wear Grammy's treasured straw hat. As they work, Grammy talks about how Caitie's great-grandmother Delia brought the hat with her from Ireland; it was a special gift from her older sister, Katherine. Katherine hopes the hat will bring her sister magic and a bit of hope as she begins her life in America.

Caitie is very careful with the hat because she knows how much Grammy cares about it; however, it blows away with a gust of wind, and an adventure begins as Caitie chases after it.

This delightful story is beautifully illustrated. I'm sure young children will love the pictures and the bit of magic that comes with the story.

[Kiran Acharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The magic straw hat is a story of hope, and magic.Caitie's grandmother tells her the story behind her great-grandmother's straw hat. Caitie borrows the hat only to have the wind blew it off. Then, follows Caitie's journey to get her hat back. It is a charming tale with soft, cute illustrations.

I recommend it to 2-6 year olds.

You can read my complete review here: Book Review: The Magic Straw Hat

* I received a review copy of the book from SDP publishers via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

[Lorrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrifically cute story about a little girl, her grammy and a straw hat that belonged to her great-grandmother, who had sailed to America from Ireland many years before. Caitie's grammy said the hat was magical. On her way to a neighbor's house, a gust of wind blew the hat away and so goes the story of Caitie's quest to get the hat back. A very sweet read for any little girl...illustrations are well-done too.

I received an e-copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this beautifully illustrated book, Catie's Grandmother tells her a story about her great grandmother's magic straw hat and how she wore it as she traveled to America from Ireland and when she sold pies. Catie promises to take care of the hat, but when it blows away and no one can catch it, Catie wishes that it will return and the results are magical. The story is cute and the illustrations are absolutely lovely! I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The drawings in this book were beautiful and eye catching. I loved the way they faded at the edges. The story was simplistic but sweet. The writing was nothing too complex but nice. I think kids who like stories and want to start to read themselves will love this book. It's not too complex and there's enough pictures to keep them happy.

All in all, a great children's book.

4 out of 5 stars

[Paul Franco · Rating 2 out of 5]

As you would expect from the title, a hat magically bonds a little girl and her grandmother. Pies and Ireland are also involved. The hat goes off on an adventure of its own with little Caitie in hot pursuit.
This is more a short story than an actual children’s book; most of it is drawings and it still comes out to only 30 pages. (This review might be longer.) And even in a different than “small amount of pages” way, there just wasn’t much to this, not enough to the story to be interesting.

[Karen Bricker]

The Magic Straw Hat is a National Indie Excellence Award finalist

A Holiday Favorite. A little girl's magical journey with her great grandmother's straw hat. Discover her challenges, and her surprising discoveries. Amazon.com. Book stores; New England Mobile Book Fair, Newton, Ma., and Newtonville Books.

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the illustrations in this book. It has a cute story.

[Cariadne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet tale of the joy and magic of a treasured family heirloom that travels many miles.

[Zelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, you always have to take care of family treasure, right? :)