MAC WEARS A HAT

How many hats are in your toy chest?

Mac’s world is filled with caps: a rain hat, a sleuth’s deerstalker, a makeshift crown, and an astronaut’s helmet, among others. Hats make Mac’s “heart go zing,” and the child has a chapeau for every occasion. There are hats for imaginative play, troublemaking, moments of introspection, and even times when Mac feels out of sorts—like when overbearing adults try to police what Mac wears (“then, my hat is an all-day head hug”). But compliments about a day’s style choice can turn Mac’s mood around, leaving the child feeling “like I can do anything!” Later, hats give Mac the confidence to make new friends and even join them on stage for a neighborhood performance complete with costumes and, of course, appropriate headgear. Though low on dramatic tension, this slice-of-life tale, narrated in zippy first-person prose, is high on affirmation, demonstrating how treasured objects can provide a sense of security while also empowering people to try new things. In Reid’s energetic illustrations, Mac is tan-skinned and dark-haired; one parent is lighter-skinned, while the other is brown-skinned. Children who adore dressing up will find a kindred spirit in Mac, and, after a compliment or two, those new to dressing up might “feel the zing / and a little bit of zip” and join in the fun. Perhaps they’ll even follow the appended instructions for making a folded paper sailor’s hat.

A playful confidence booster.