The Scarecrow's Hat

by Ken Brown

In this classroom favorite, a resourceful chicken enlists her farm friends to get a coveted hat from Scarecrow. A delightful circular tale and fall read-aloud!

Chicken really admires Scarecrow's straw hat. Scarecrow would gladly trade his hat for a walking stick to rest his tired arms. Chicken doesn't have a walking stick to trade—but she knows someone who does.

Author-illustrator Ken Brown pairs vivid, realistic watercolors with an inventive plot, engaging sequencing, and repetition to tell a charming circular story packed with relatable themes of friendship, bartering, and problem-solving. This award-winning title is an ideal story time choice for autumn and harvest themes.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Halloween, Fiction, Kids

30 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Ken Brown studied illustration at Birmingham Art College in England. Brown has served both as writer-illustrator and as illustrator for numerous children’s books.
Ken and Tammy have been married for 23 years and they have three daughters and one son. They feel blessed to be together. They both are passionate in what they do and have found joy throughout the years working together on their projects. Writing a book together has been rewarding and has helped bring them even closer to each other."

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chicken has her eye on Scarecrow's hat in this charming cumulative story featuring a series of exchanges. When Scarecrow declares he would trade his hat for a walking stick, Chicken sets out to find it, only to discover that Badger, who possesses such a stick, longs for a ribbon. So it goes, as Chicken hunts down the possessor of each longed-for item, effecting a series of trades that eventually gets everyone what they want...

I initially sought out The Scarecrow's Hat because I saw it on a list of autumn picture-books, but I found it more enjoyable as an example of its story type, than as a seasonal read. This kind of tale, in which the protagonist effects a series of exchanges in order to get what he wants, is quite common - think Elsa Beskow's Pelle's New Suit , for instance - and this is an entertaining example. The narrative is repetitive but engaging, and the accompanying artwork colorful and appealing. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for entertaining exchange/bargaining stories.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good, imo, as One Fine Day, without the bit of brutality that bothers some. This kind of bargaining tale is common, but should be more so. Children can learn lessons about a cash-free economy, and thrift, 'one man's trash is another's treasure' etc. Not to mention resourcefulness.

I think I especially like the version where the doltish peasant goes off to trade the cow and keeps trading down, and when he reports back to his wife she bravely tries to see the best of each trade.... But this one is especially delightful, given the bright illustrations so full of warm heart. Highly recommended.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have loved this as a kid! When chicken wants Scarecrow's hat, and Scarecrow would gladly trade it for a walking stick, Chicken doesn't have a walking stick... but she knows someone who does. And that someone happens to want a ribbon instead of his walking stick... and so on until everyone finally gets what he/she wants by trading! ;-)

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Scarecrow's Hat is a 2001 picture book about Chicken admiring Scarecrow's hat. Scarecrow's willing to swap his hat for a walking stick to give his arms a rest. But since Chicken doesn't have a stick, she goes around the farm field looking for one. She encounters other animals who have what she wants but she needs to find an item to swap them for theirs' to get the stick. In which, she eventually finds something she can trade to get the stick to Scarecrow to give her his hat, ending with both parties very satisfied.

This is one of those childhood picture books I was introduced to way back in the day, and it still stands the test of time as a sweet children's read. Chicken shows just how well she can barter by finding the right animal that wants something she can give. And in doing so, the gift exchange she receives is brought to the previous neighbor that a swap chain goes through until she finds the thing she needs to get what she wants. An excellent way to show children how a proper trade-off is like. Ken Brown both wrote and illustrated this book, showing excellence in conveying the very needs of his characters through his watercolor while keeping pace with the minimal text that appears.

[Anne Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming story and pictures - great picture book read-aloud for children.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to find a book the would be cute for Fall without being about Fall or Thanksgiving.

Chicken sets about creating a series of trades so that she can get herself the scarecrow's hat for a nest. It's a fun bit of sequencing, run both forwards and backwards as she completes each animal's request.

Oddly enough, my second graders turned this into a quick bit of an economics lesson as well, with questions about how bartering works verse just paying for things or making them yourself. The illustrations were cute, and they loved the little details that humanized each animal. (Anthropomorphism seems a bit big of a word.)

This book would also work well for younger listeners.

[Kathleen Vincent]

In this circular tale, a chicken encounters many animals that have certain items but would rather have something else. She meets a scarecrow who had a hat but wanted a walking stick and although chicken didn't have the walking stick, she knew who did. This pattern continues with chicken going to each animal, hearing all of their "wanted" items. When she reaches the donkey and hears he wants feathers, she swaps her feathers for his blanket, and works backwards to get all of the animals the items they needed.

This is a favorite of mine to use with my first graders when practicing sequencing events and teaching why sequencing is important in comprehending a story. There are also some unique vocabulary words that we discuss when reading this book- battered, and swap, and flicked.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cumulative story. I had the children predict if the animal chicken was talking to would have what she needed. They weren't great at guessing but it got them participating and predicting what would happen in the story. There aren't a lot of great scarecrow picture books but this one was pretty good.

[Alex]

The Scarecrow's Hat was a great book to read with my first graders because it was about a hen who traded with a bunch of different animals. Each animal needed something and everyone was willing t trade something they had for a different item. Hen did a great job connecting all of the animals together. I also use this book with discussing trading and taking/stealing.

[curiouskat_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy to read story that focuses on bargaining between characters in order to get what they want. While this is not a new concept, it is still one that I always enjoy. I actually got this one through an Ivy Kids kit subscription, so it was especially fun to do craft activities to further the experience of the read.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chicken admires Scarecrow's hat, and the Scarecrow is willing to trade it for a walking stick. Although Chicken doesn't have a walking stick, but knows someone who does, and so begins the process of barter, and trade, until Chicken gets the Scarecrow's hat.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hen compliments different beings' possessions, but when they express their hopes for some other object, she does a great swaperoo, thus making everyone happy, including herself, because she gets the scarecrow's hat as a nest.

[Zazie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to buy this book (listened to it on YouTube) and get my nephews and niece to read it. I bet they'll love it. I think it will teach a child that if you share your gifts with others, everyone will be happy, among other things. Sweet story and well worth the read and purchase.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love using this book with my students. It is terrific to teach story sequencing as the hen goes from animal to animal to swap items and then does the same in reverse. It is also great to work on tier two vocabulary, and problem and solution.

[Josh Helmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story about networking and it's not what you know but who you know. It conveyed the old adage that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Some parts lacked context like why the sheep wanted broken glasses.

[Danni Nemes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chicken wants the scarecrow's hat and asks how he can help him. The scarecrow asks for a walking stick. This sends the chicken on a mission to trade with many different farm animals to get it for him. A cute story that is repetitive and fun for students to guess what will happen next.

[Angelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was not only cute it has a lesson to teach and we enjoyed reading it a lot!

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solutions, problem solving, resourcefulness. Excellent. The illustrations are stellar!

[Sarah Westgate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Fiction
This book is great for Kindergarten and up. One unique feature of this text is the pictures look very realistic-especially the animals!

[Pavithra Sivananthalingam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how the story went on ....like again n again...

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book. Beautiful illustrations. Chicken wants the hat the scarecrow has, but has to go through a series of trades to get it. It makes her a perfect nest.

[Melissa Ganka-Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read this book out loud to my class with props! It's a student favorite.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story about helping each other and sharing.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this book, watching the chicken gather items to get the precious hat never gets old🥰

[Christine Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarecrow Storytime

A little old fashioned but cute. Story about trading things to get what you want.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chicken swaps her feathers for a warm nest.

[Little Champs]

3134

[Cecile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe we waited this long to enjoy this!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever chicken helps others with their needs in order to meet her need also. Love the illustrations.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scarecrows hat
By Ken Brown
Showing the nature of trade, and helping others. Sequence of events and repetition to remind students to listen to details.