Hats Off to Mr. Pockles!

by Sally Lloyd-Jones, David Litchfield (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times bestselling author and a rising-star illustrator present an utterly hilarious, oh-so-silly tale about Mr. Pockles, an odd little dog with a big hat collection—and an even bigger heart.

For Mr. Pockles, going without a hat is as unthinkable as going around without any pants on. He has millions of hats, for every occasion—an Eating His Cornflakes hat, a Drinking Cups of Tea hat, and even an In the Bath hat—but for some reason, he doesn't have any friends. One day, when Lady CoCo Fitz-Tulip—a Very Important Panda—finds that her hat has been gobbled up by some hungry bunnies, Mr. Pockles knows just how to help. Overflowing with silliness, here's a charming celebration of friendship, inclusion, and the joy of sharing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399558153
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	01/29/2019
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

SALLY LLOYD-JONES is the author of the New York Times bestseller How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister and its companions, How to Get Married . . . by Me, the Bride and How to Get a Job . . . by Me, the Boss. She has written many other books for children, including Poor Doreen, The House That's Your Home, and, most recently, Goldfish on Vacation. She spent her childhood in Africa and England and now lives in New York City. Visit her at sallylloyd-jones.com, and follow @sallylloydjones on Twitter.

DAVID LITCHFIELD is the author and illustrator of several books for children, including the bestselling The Bear and the Piano, winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize; The Building Boy by Ross Montgomery; and, most recently, Grandad's Secret Giant. David lives with his family in Bedford, England. Visit him at davidlitchfieldillustration.com or follow him on Twitter @dc_litchfield.

Editorial Reviews

11/12/2018
Lloyd-Jones (Goldfish on Vacation) opens by describing hat fancier Mr. Pockles’s collection, including one under glass that he’s never worn (“It was Too Special and he was saving it for Best”). Mr. Pockles, a shy, impeccably groomed hound with long ears and blue eyes, dreams of appearing at Hat Day at the PandaPolitan Club. Only pandas are allowed in, however, so he mopes at the Treat House in his “Jaunty Hat with a Friendly Feather.” When prominent panda Lady Coco Fitz-Tulip sashays into the café and loses her fruit hat to some hungry baby bunnies, Mr. Pockles saves the day—“HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, EVERYONE!”—giving Lady Coco his Best hat and distributing the rest to the crowd. Naturally, Lady Coco brings them all to the PandaPolitan Club. The tale has more than a whiff of royalism, with its exclusive club and its fascination with Lady Coco’s family pedigree (she’s “even had streets named after her”). But Litchfield (When Paul Met Artie) creates crisp mixed-media spreads that revel in jewel-box colors and patterns; his hats are adorned with hearts, feathers, and even a miniature roller coaster. The hats are the star attraction here. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"This amusing story is delicately threaded with some subtle lessons about sharing, making friends, and including everyone."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

From the Publisher

12/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—Mr. Pockles is a lonely dog with a wonderful hat for every occasion and not a friend to share them with. Leaving his Hat House one day, he witnesses the destruction of a beautiful hat and he alone can rectify the problem. Through his fabulous collection, Mr. Pockles connects with his neighbor and learns that by sharing his hobby he can make friends. This story about friendship and self-expression falls short of captivating due to its awkward sentences and jumpy storytelling; this however, does not diminish the beautifully enthralling illustrations. With big bold images that dominate the pages, the story can be navigated and enjoyed primarily through digital pictures. While the images and subject matter target beginning readers, the word choice and sentence structure require greater comprehension. VERDICT Purchase this attractive work where anthropomorphic animal tales are enjoyed.—Haley Amendt, Hinton Municipal Library, Alberta

School Library Journal

★ 2018-09-30

A lonely dachshund named Mr. Pockles finds new friends when he shares his extensive collection of elaborately decorated hats with other animals from his town.

Mr. Pockles lives all alone in his house with a hat-shaped roof, surrounded by his collection of imaginative hats, each one named and adorned with thematic decorations for every occasion. He longs to attend the Hat Day celebration at the PandaPolitan Club, but only pandas are allowed at the exclusive destination. While stopping in a bakery for a treat to cheer himself up, Mr. Pockles meets Lady Coco Fitz-Tulip, a grande dame of the panda set on her way to the Hat Day event. She is wearing a Carmen Miranda-style hat covered with fruit, and in a hilarious sequence, her hat is eaten by baby bunnies. Mr. Pockles invites Lady Fitz-Tulip and the other animals from the cafe back to his house, where they all choose new hats. Lady Fitz-Tulip takes everyone to Hat Day as her special guests, as "friends of pandas are invited, too." The drolly humorous story is told in a strong narrative voice, with melodramatic flair, clever dialogue, and distinctive personalities for both Mr. Pockles and Lady Fitz-Tulip. Vibrant mixed-media illustrations use a cool palette with jewel-toned accents and glowing lights in the city buildings that impart a fairy-tale aura to the setting.

This amusing story is delicately threaded with some subtle lessons about sharing, making friends, and including everyone. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews