A Hat for Mr Mountain

Nara is a creative girl who fashions hats for animals of all kinds from dogs to giraffes. She loves making them feel good about their new look and there’s a warm welcome for all that visit her studio seeking a new titfa. One day a large letter arrives in the mail. It’s from a highly unexpected writer, Mr Mountain, requesting a hat.

Kind-hearted Nara resolves to make him the best hat in the entire world. Enlisting help from various animals, she works at her massive enterprise creating a gigantic woollen hat that is entirely satisfactory to Mr Mountain. However it suddenly starts to rain extremely hard and we – but maybe not Nara – know what happens when wool gets very wet. Not one to give up easily though, Nara weaves another hat from leaves. This time it’s hungry animals that do the damage. So what about wood? Now that should stand up to water and greedy animals; but maybe not the fire upon which some mice are busy toasting marshmallows. Uh oh! Hat number three is ruined. Nara is so downhearted she shuts up shop, until that is, she receives an apology from the animals responsible for the disasters. It’s overheard by a monkey that comes up with a very clever idea, which just might rescue the whole sorry situation.

The creator of this wonderfully quirky, warm-hearted – or should that be warm–headed – story is new to me. Her detailed, superbly expressive illustrations are an absolute delight. With themes of friendship, determination and collaboration, her telling is beautifully stitched together: it’s also ideal for STEAM discussions both in the classroom or at home.