Mr. Zinger's Hat

K-Gr 3—Leo is playing by himself when the wind picks up his ball, which knocks off an elderly man's hat. Leo helps catch it, and the two sit down on a bench. Mr. Zinger, a writer, tells Leo that there is a story in his hat, and the boy then proceeds to help him fill in the details. When it is finished, Mr. Zinger says good-bye, and Leo begins to bounce his ball again. This time, it flies off into the hands of a girl. Leo and Sophie play until they are tired and then sit on the bench. Leo takes off his cap and…. This circular tale nicely illustrates the use of imagination and the power of story. The text is just right for newly proficient readers and teachers could easily use it in writing lessons. Petricic's illustrations extend the narrative. In the "real" world, the pictures are done with a watercolor wash. In the story portion, they are composed of flat, opaque colors on a cream background. The book is nicely designed, with plenty of white space and typesetting that sometimes flows along with the wind. Budding storytellers will appreciate this book.—Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada