The Scarecrow's Hat

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 show more 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. show less

The Scarecrow’s Hat by Ken Brown has a very fun story line to it, though it is a longer story line for a picture book. It is a story about a chicken who likes the scarecrow’s hat and sets out on an adventure to make trade after trade to try to obtain what the scarecrow wants so that she can have the hat. Each new character she meets has something that they want but she does not have. So she sets out on task after task to get them. Showing children how working together can help us each get what we need.
The illustrations are detailed and show expressions well. You can see the character of each animal in the illustrations. The illustrations line up well to help support new readers to understand what is going on. The colors are warm show more and welcoming, not overwhelming or overexciting. I would not say "bedtime story", but I could see this being more of a calming story for children. show less

Chicken really admires Scarecrow's 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. Thus begins her quest to find items to trade among her farm friends, all to obtain a walking stick to swap for Scarecrow's hat. But why does Chicken want an old straw hat?

Impulse grab at the library. Adorable (but not saccharine!) cumulative tale with a surprise twist at the end. I'll be looking for more by Ken Brown.

27 months - a cute book about trading for what you want. We also read Perfect Soup at the same time as this which is also basically the same concept. Both were enjoyable, Perfect Soup had a slightly better story including the value of friendship and the enjoyment of gift giving. Loved the illustrations in this book.

Summary: A chicken meets a scarecrow and the scarecrow tells him that all he would like is a walking stick. Chicken then tells him that he doesn't have a walking stick but he knows someone who does, Chicken then meets another animal who also wants something, this pattern continues until Chicken finally has something to give away, his feathers! In turn, every animals receives what he needs.
Critique:
Genre: This is a good example of fantasy because the animals are extremely personified, they have desires, thoughts, and actions just as humans do. However, what makes this fantasy interesting is that the author does not create a magical world that these animals live in or even a new world for that matter, she simply writes about it as if show more though this happens everyday, animals talking that is.
Characterization: Chicken is a round character, he is the only animal that is present on each page. However his character does not get as developed as one would think, because the same qualities are being displayed on each new page. However, his consistency does show his determination. Overall, he is definitely the character that the readers get to learn the most about.
Media: Colored Pencil show less

This is a great book to teach sharing and how to help others. It shows how one will go to great lengths to help another out. This illustrations are colorful and warming,