Very Good Hats

by Emma Straub, Blanca Gómez (Illustrator)

The first picture book by bestselling novelist Emma Straub, author of This Time Tomorrow, this is a joyous, inventive, adorably illustrated read-aloud that will inspire kids to see ordinary objects in a whole new way.

Some people think hats are fancy things you can buy at a dressy store, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In this book, acorns and raspberries are snug hats for your fingers, and an empty pudding cup is a good hat for a stuffed bear. Pajama pants make dangly hats, books can be dramatic hats, and bubbles make very fine hats as well (if temporary). Readers will be delighted to discover that anything can be a hat if you believe it is. Hats are everywhere you look!

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Juvenile, Fashion

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2023

About the author

Emma Straub is the New York Times‒bestselling author of the novels All Adults Here, Modern Lovers, The Vacationers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. Straub's work has been published in twenty countries, and she and her husband own Books Are Magic, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Kirsti]

Not exactly a banned book but sort of a banned book? The author was abruptly disinvited to read this book to schoolchildren in Katy, Texas because . . . she used The Eff Word. Not in the book, though. In her social media posts. More than once! During a pandemic! You can read more about the kerfuffle here: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-te...

The most controversial statement in the book is "An empty pudding cup makes a good hat for a stuffed bear." Although I strongly disagree with this assertion, I support the author's right to explore tendentious ideas.

I sought out this book because I thought the way some Texans treated the author is a fucking disgrace. I hope she makes lots of money out of this tempest in a baseball cap.

[Danielle]

I mean, completely outstanding!

[Debbie]

I LOVE hats! Reading this book was an absolute delight with Ms. Straub identifying so very many things that make hats, very good hats, for all sorts of things. My two favorites were the roof of a houe is the house's hat and that in winter having your pet on your head makes a nice warm hat. One of the kids in the picture had a rat on his head! Highly recommended if you are a hat fan and you want something to bring a you a smile.

[Nursebookie]

Fantastic!

[Dayna]

DARLING

[shesellsseashells]

Oh, the pure joy of this book. Such a fun read-aloud and plenty of Easter eggs in the collage-style illustrations. This is picture book magic!

[AnnMarie]

Kinda stupid even for a kids’ book but cute and made me laugh out loud.

[Ms. B]

3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. Use your imagination; hats can be for anything. If you're looking for a new story for a Hat Day celebration, give this one a try.

[Linda Hutchinson]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Child Fiction - Library
🧢
I am a fan of writer Emma Straub, and I was disappointed that she was rebuked by a Texas school and uninvited to read her story. It was not because her cute and charming book was controversial but because she used the F-bomb on her social media account during the pandemic. Some days I think our world has gone mad. I’m sorry for the little kids in Texas who did not have the chance to meet her in person and hear her read this story. PS: I did love the book, and so did my grandboy. #childrensbooks #VeryGoodHats @emmastraub #children #kidbooks #book #books #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader #reading #covers #book-covers @ocls

[Natalie Park]

4.5 stars. I loved that this book took everyday objects and with some creativity made into a hat. Imagination and seeing the world with a different perspective are great skills to have, especially when we start at a very young age.

[Frank Peters]

Banned in Texas, that’s all I had to hear – I bought it and I’ll bring it to book club 🧐🤓🥸

[Viviane Elbee]

Great concept book about hats, that encourages creative, imaginative thinking. And it’s got humor too!

[Sirah]

Do you know what a hat is? This book takes you on a journey that might just change your perspective. It's a bit silly and doesn't really go anywhere, but it's great fun to read.

[Emily]

What's a hat? Well, readers will learn that anything can be a hat! Fun illustrations are reminiscent of Fisher Price Little People. My favorite hat is the soup hat, even if it wasn't as fun for the character.

[Larry Walangitan]

A very good book about very good hats.

[Emily]

Very good hats was just very okay

[Kirsten Murphy]

Shared out loud with 4th grade and then brainstormed other things that could be “very good hats”

[Desi]

So charming and fun! We loved it!

[Courtney Thompson]

You’re a hat, I’m a hat, we allllllll be hats

[Victoria Hanley]

What a fun way to think of hats!

[Alyssa Mandell]

Very silly book of all the different hats. Be warned, there is a naked butt and leg on a page.

[Audrey]

Cute book about how many things can be considered hats. We laughed at the cuddly pets as hats, enjoyable read.

[Jenni Heins]

I thought this was cute and creative. Kristin, you could read and do a fun lesson plan around it.

[Becky]

This children's book by one of my favorite authors, Emma Straub, was given to me by a dear friend. I have read it to and with my granddaughters, who are ages 3, 5, & 8. All three of them give it a thumbs up. Quite a high recommendation.

[Peacegal]

This book has the timeless feel of a children's book from the 60s or 70s. Clever, silly, creative, and fun, HATS will be an engaging read aloud that will keep kids giggling.
Although, despite the illustrations in this book, please do not place small pets atop your head like a hat--they could fall and injure themselves or you, and there's no humor in that!

[Liz]

Conceptually, this reminded me of NOT A BOX. It would be great for a storytime about hats or imaginative play!

[Sue Obrien]

Emma Straub’s Very Good Hats is a whimsical and imaginative picture book that captures the boundless creativity of a child’s mind. Through charming illustrations and clever text, the book invites readers to see the world in a new light—where almost anything can be a hat. From acorns to bowls of spaghetti, Straub encourages kids to embrace playful thinking and reimagine everyday items with delightful absurdity.

What makes Very Good Hats stand out is its ability to balance humor and heart. The book doesn't just entertain; it celebrates individuality and the idea that self-expression can come in all forms—even something as simple (or ridiculous) as a peelingflesh hat which is one of the many surprising and oddly satisfying visual gags. While the phrase may sound eerie, in the context of the book, it fits into the joyful chaos where fruit peels and silly accessories make perfect sense on tiny heads.

Ultimately, Very Good Hats is a charming read for children and adults alike. Emma Straub proves that hats—and by extension, imagination—have no rules. The book offers more than laughs; it’s a love letter to creativity and the joy of seeing the world through playful eyes. Whether you're donning a traditional cap or a peelingflesh hat, there's always room for fun when you let your imagination lead the way.

[Michelle Adamo #EmptyNestReader]

Very Good Hats is a fun, creative children's picture book. A book that very clearly lends itself to reading to a child on your lap. Very Good Hats provides a wonderful opportunity for a little one to explore and to use his or her imaginations in creative, fun ways.

"Hats can be worn on your head or on your fingers.”
"Can an empty pudding cup be a hat? How about a fuzzy cat? Bubbles can make fine hats too."

An enjoyable picture book with colorful, diverse illustrations by Blanca Gomez. A great book to experience fun and sometimes silly interactions with your special little one as you read and enjoy the art and make up your own stories. Ages 3-5. Like many authors, Emma Straub is sticking her toe into the genre of picture books. This is a good first start. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#emptynestreader #instagram #VeryGoodHats #EmmaStraub #PictureBooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #DecemberReads #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #5starbooks #kidlit #readaloudbooks #childrensbooksofinstagram #kidlitpicks #ReadBannedBooks #BooksPushSocietyForward #FreedomtoRead

[Jeimy]

Very Good Hats by Emma Straub, illustrated by Blanca Gómez, is a joyful and imaginative picture book that invites readers to reconsider the ordinary. What begins as a simple premise—what counts as a hat?—quickly expands into a playful exploration of perspective and creativity.

Through a series of unexpected examples, the book encourages readers to see everyday objects in new ways, transforming the familiar into something whimsical and fun. The result is a reading experience that feels both lighthearted and inventive, perfectly suited for young audiences and read-aloud settings.

What makes the book particularly charming is its ability to surprise. Drawn in by its appealing cover, I found myself delighted by the journey it offered—a celebration of imagination that reminds readers that meaning can shift depending on how we choose to see the world.

[Cheryl]

I love books that inspire imagination, like Not a Stick and Christina Katerina & the Box. I should've liked this a lot more than I did. But it just kinda fell flat for me somehow. One problem I had with it is that the illustrations promised delightful details, but when I squinted, there was nothing special to see. It's probably just me, though, so try it for yourself if you're interested.