The Upside Down Hat

by Stephen Barr, Stephen Barr

The Little Prince meets Journey in this gorgeous, reassuring picture book fable about loss, perseverance, and finding what matters most.

What happens to a boy who has nothing but a hat?
Everything.

A boy wakes up one morning and finds that everything he owns has gone missing. With nothing but a simple green hat, the boy journeys through distant landscapes, searching high and low for the things he has lost. Along the way he discovers that perhaps everything he needs has been with him all along.

Stephen Barr makes his debut in this achingly poignant and deeply profound fable of one boy's adventure to recover his life's treasures. With vibrant illustrations by Gracey Zhang and a subtle message about hopeful perseverance, this book is an exquisite, emotional journey through loss, persistence, and discovering what's truly essential.

TIMELESS PICTURE BOOK: Deeply reflective, sparingly written, and beautifully illustrated, this tale will strike a chord with its poignant storytelling. It's a picture book for any reader, of any age, at any time.
A FABLE FOR THE AGES: Reminiscent of the stories of Aesop's Fables, this book touches on universal themes of the human condition and shares a heartfelt message that is effortless but hopeful. Readers will come away thinking differently about what they own, what they need, and what they hold most dear.
NEW VOICE IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Debut author Stephen Barr brings years of experience working with authors as a literary agent to craft this gem of a picture book that will resonate with fans of classic children's stories.
IMMERSIVE ILLUSTRATION: Gracey Zhang's spellbinding art illuminates every step of the story, immersing the reader in a gorgeously rendered world that feels familiar yet utterly unique.

Perfect for:
• Parents interested in teaching their kids about loss and gratitude
• Children who like fables/myths
• Readers who love losing themselves in immersive picture book art
• Readers looking for a modern classic picture book
• Fans of William Steig, Erin and Philip Stead, and the Chronicles of Narnia
• Educators and librarians looking for a magical, engaging read-aloud

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fables

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the film The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy says, "...if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with." That closely resembles the lesson of this book.

The story begins with... "One morning, a boy who had everything woke up and discovered it was all gone. Everything was missing except for his hat." He begins his search for what was lost taking along his hat, which comes in very handy during the storm, when he is thirsty, when it is sunny, as a bowl to hold cherries, and to hide under, among other things. It is when he loses the hat that he realizes that it was everything he really needed.

Debut author Stephen Barr offers a spare tale that is a throwback to moral tales of years ago, without all of the guilt associated with those tales. There is a pattern to the storytelling that will make this a good readaloud or story for storytellers.

Gracey Zhang's ink, gouache, and watercolor paints are bright and bold here. The style is somewhat reminiscent of Bernard Waber (, Houghton Mifflin, c1965) and Ludwig Bemelmans (, Viking Press, c1939) with detailed illustrations of roughly drawn images with dark outlines. She puts just enough down on the page for readers to imagine the finer details themselves. The fill colors are strong - particularly when emotions are strong (ex. alone on top of the mountain or when dreaming).

This will be a terrific readaloud during a time of cuddling one-on-one or a group storytime.

Highly Recommended for PreS-grade 3.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the message of this book and the illustrative style is unique.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning artwork paired with a pensive, thoughtful story. I will read anything Gracey Zhang illustrates.

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisite journey + wonderfully beautiful art. This book has been read and reread since April. Love it. A picture book that’s great for any age. A treasure!

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy wakes to discover everything he has known and cared about is lost...except his hat. As he goes in search of his lost hat, he discovers what he perhaps did not know before when he had everything and everyone else in his life: the hat is very useful. As he goes in search of all that he's lost his hat becomes protection (from the heat and sun as well as his identity when, hungry, he eats the farmer's cherries from the tree), a vessel for water when it rains to quench his thirst, and even a way to beg when needed. As he wanders, one evening he dreams he's turned the mountain upside down and finds inside all that he's lost...except his hat.
Gracey Zhang, also a relative newcomer, illustrated the book (and, hey Goodreads, you forgot to give her credit for that magnificent art), a perfect match with her rough sketch Bernard Waber-ish art (particularly Ira) that shows the despair and determination of the young boy in search of the meaning of his life.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is the author's first picture book and I look forward to his future books because this one takes such lovely leaps and philosophical turns in the narrative. A boy who has nothing but a hat, a stand in for the boy himself, searches for all he has lost, using the hat for shelter, alms, and a vessel for drinking water. There are a lot of kids who have, or feel they have, lost everything and will need this reassurance that they have the resources to go on alone without "everything". I'm a big fan of Tracey Zhang and her bold, brushy illustrations are pitch perfect here.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh, I found this book pretty thought-provoking even though it's a simple plotline. A little boy has lost his prize possessions, and all he has now is a hat. He grows to be grateful for the hat for its many functions, to the point that when he finds his other possessions but the hat is lost, he goes in search of the hat instead. An interesting, fable-like story of moving on, hope, and gratitude. I like the vibes going on here.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple art and minimal text invite young readers to put themselves into the story and imagine, as this character does, what they might do when "all is lost". This is both a basic imaginative story for the very young and a deep analogy and thought experiment for many ages, capable food sparking discussions and deliberations along with writing exercises to explore what it means to be lost, alone, and faed with decisions about what really matters in life.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as an adult reader for the AR Diamond Book Award. This was a *very* odd book that I believe would confuse most young readers. It seems to be about loss and survival, but it doesn't convey that very well to the reader. There are multiple odd scenes in the book: taking items from a farm to eat and getting chased away by the owner, using the hat as a way to beg for money in the streets. I just wasn't feeling this book for young kids.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adults like me love this. And, yes, maybe children who are wise enough to appreciate The Little Prince would too. But the picture-book audience?

And, I dunno, but if it's any sort of a refugee story, would a child in need of encouragement have access to this? Also, would a child not in need understand it?

How can it be shared, and with whom?

If you can answer that, I'll increase my star rating.

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a book be wonderful if a boy has nothing but a hat? Can the reader find beauty in the fact that the boy is satisfied with only a hat (and maybe some birds)? Does it mean we should be satisfied because the boy only has a hat? This book is wonderful and thoughtful on many levels and will be good to discuss with young readers and listeners.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are fabulous and lush and I loved exploring each page. A little boy loses everything but his hat and on a journey to find what has been lost, he discovers that sometimes you really have everything you need right in front of you. It's one of the stories with a good message that may be a little lost on certain young readers.

[Parker Henthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was very touching. The boy lost everything of his except for his green hat. He was searching everywhere for the things that he lost. By the end of the story, he realizes that he has had all he needed all along. I enjoyed this story because of its appreciation to the little things in life.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel like this book was trying to have some deep meaning, but it missed the mark. A boy wakes up and randomly all his things are gone except for a hat. He goes looking for his missing things, but the hat proves helpful along the way. There's no background on the boy or his stuff. Where is his family?

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy who used to have everything now only has his hat. This is an evocative picture book about loss and survival with a haunting narrative and open-ended ending. A thoughtful book to use with older readers to encourage writing and discussion.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations were okay, just not to my personal taste.

The story, however, is interesting. I like that it's got some philosophical meat to it. I think this is a book that you would get something different out of at different ages. I love picturebooks that grow with the reader!

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

I need to marinade in the metaphors of this one a while longer.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute fable about a boy who has nothing but also has everything. #BookPosse

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

once again i am enamored by gracey zhang's art and use of color.
edit: THIS IS A DEBUT? :0

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The boy who loses every possession but his hat has a rich life

[Eli Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and profound, this book stands out with lovely, organic illustrations and a moving message.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this book that has layers of meaning - all starting with a hat that is useful both upside down and "right side" up

[Ashley Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"One morning, a boy who had everything woke up and discovered that it was all gone. Everything was missing except his hat."

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are a bit unique, the story has an important point. A couple of the illustrations take a closer look to sort out.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thought-provoking picture book.

[Christie · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was awful and depressing!!!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah. I did not expect this story to be so moving!

[charlene.librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is such a clever book to get us thinking about looking at things from a different angle. Zhang's bold, saturated colors bring a dynamic feel to the action in the book.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through a search for lost belongings, a boy finds what he has always had all along. Lots to talk about with kids!

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just seemed strange to me.