This Is Not My Hat
A small fish narrates a confident escape plan while the pictures show the big fish calmly following him. The words and illustrations tell opposite stories, making it a perfect introduction to dramatic irony for a four-year-old.
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen is estimated to take about 4 minutes to read aloud (205 words, about 1 sentence a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-6.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 4 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 205Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 1Sentence per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 3-6Our editorial fit
Our review
The reading experience here relies on the tension between what is being said and what is actually happening. While the small fish talks a big game about his escape, the visual evidence suggests a very different outcome.
It is an excellent choice for children who are starting to notice contradictions in stories. The underwater setting and clever subversion of expectations keep the momentum high and the interaction levels even higher.
Before you buy it
The big fish gets the hat back and the small fish is not seen again. Same off-page ending as I Want My Hat Back.
Themes
- deadpan humour
- theft
- fish
- dramatic irony
- underwater
Books like This Is Not My Hat
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read This Is Not My Hat aloud?
About 4 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 205. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is This Is Not My Hat actually for?
Ages 3-6 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 1 sentence a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does This Is Not My Hat survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is This Is Not My Hat a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise This Is Not My Hat?
It can. It scores 5 out of 5 with us for holding up to repeat reading, and children tend to learn by heart the books they ask for most, even without a strong refrain.
Can a beginning reader read This Is Not My Hat on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 1 sentence a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does This Is Not My Hat cover?
We tag it with deadpan humour, theft, fish, dramatic irony and underwater. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists This Is Not My Hat is on
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