Easter Hat-Astrophe

Rory H. Mather (text) and James Hart (illustrator), Easter Hat-astrophe, Scholastic, March 2021, 24 pp., RRP $17.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760975548 

Books that are themed around a celebration or occasion are very popular. But I know Easter is one occasion that slips under the radar at our house in terms of using books to supplement the celebrations. Easter Hat-astrophe is an Easter-themed picture book that is all about an Easter hat parade of animals.   

One by one a variety of animals parade before a panel of judges sporting outrageously ludicrous hats. We see a yak, a zebra, a llama, a crocodile, and more. As the parade goes on the wheels start to fall off and a hat-astrophe occurs. But there is an obvious winner for the judges.   

Easter Hat-astophe is a book aimed at very young children who will enjoy the bright colours, rhyming text, and animals. The illustrations are vibrant, bold, and action-packed, reminiscent of Heath McKenzie.   

This is not a book for those looking for an explanation or exploration of Easter as a religious festival. In fact, the link to Easter is a little tenuous. It could almost have just been a hat parade, if not for an appearance from the Easter bunny. Because of this, I worry about the shelf-life of this book.  

Reviewed by Cherie Bell 

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