This Is Not My Hat

Why It's On Our Shelf

The small fish steals a hat from a sleeping big fish and narrates his escape plan. The illustrations show something different than what the fish is saying, creating dramatic irony. By the end, the big fish has clearly reclaimed his hat, though it happens off-page. The dark humor by Jon Klassen is what sets this apart - it's funny precisely because it doesn't spell everything out. Kids get that something bad happened to the little fish, and they find it hilarious. Adults appreciate the deadpan tone and the visual storytelling. It won a Caldecott Medal for good reason - it's a masterclass in using illustration to contradict and enhance text.