Virginnie's Hat

by Dori Chaconas, Holly Meade (Illustrator)

A plucky girl chases her hat through a critter-filled swamp in a rhythmic adventure glowing with sun-dappled art.

Virginnie is a freckly gal who wears a wide straw hat to shade her from the southern sun. When a puff of wind sends that hat adrift in the swamp — right to the top of a sycamore tree — she braves some scary creatures to get it back! Crawdaddy craw, snickery snake, swaying gator. . . . What will she tell her mama at the end of the day? Lilting language and expressive collages paint a lush, lively picture of a determined young girl and her dauntless adventure.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 24, 2007

About the author

Dori Chaconas learned story pacing from an early age while entertaining her younger siblings. The author of such picture books as ON A WINTRY MORNING, ONE LITTLE MOUSE, and MOMMA, WILL YOU?, she lives in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virginnie lost her hat in a tree. She tries to remove it by throwing one boot after another at it. With each attempt another swamp animal tries to bite her toes but her boot misses her hat and lands on the attacking animal. Thoughout all this, Virginnie is oblivious to the animals, but the sound of her mother approaching frightens her!

[Sydney Hall]

"Virginnie's Hat" is a great multicultural pick! I really liked this story because I have not come across one like it so far. It takes place in the swamp land and implies it takes place in Louisiana. It describes the day of a little girl who loses her hat and is affected by different swamp animals. Sometimes, children's books don't have a definite setting and place but I like that this author included some aspects of a particular place that the students might be able to connect with or share experiences.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny ending. Lively language!

[Partridge Public]

Chaconas, Dori K-1st

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice hat story that adds in a swamp, threatening creatures, a little humor, and boots that become good tools. I really enjoyed the illustrations of the swamp trees and vegetation.