Review: "The Red Hat" by David Teague

What lengths would you go to in order to become someone's friend? In "The Red Hat" by David Teague, Billy Hightower goes to great lengths to meet the girl in the red hat. Billy lives at the top of the world's tallest building. A building so high that it doesn't even rain on the roof because the clouds are beneath the roof. One day construction begins on a new high rise across from Billy's, and soon a girl in a red hat appears of the opposite roof. Billy tries everything imaginable to communicate with her--yelling, a paper airplane message, a kite--but the wind always snatches away his efforts. In one last grand attempt, Billy tries to fly to the other roof, but only manages to snatch away the girl's red hat. Will they ever be friends?

Antoinette Portis illustrates this imaginative story with a bold palette of black, white, blues, and a little pops of red, creating a visually striking world. Shiny ribbons laced across each page bring the powerful wind to life and add subtle texture. "The Red Hat" is a visually pleasing story that will warm the hearts of readers of all ages. It is most appropriate for readers from preschool to second grade.

--Andrea W., Headquarters