The Magic Hat

The Magic Hat
by Mem Fox

The story line of this book is very simple. A magic hat flies into a small town. As it rests on people's heads it transforms them into an animal. After a few people are changed, a wizard comes to town and transforms the animals back into people. Everyone is having fun, the wizard leaves town again and uses the magic hat to transform himself into a boy.

The graphics of the book are alright I would say. Sure, they are pretty but also very detailed. At times, there is much more going on in the graphics than there is in the story. For instance, in the graphics the wizard brings an egg when he comes to town. Later you see a chicken hatch out of the egg and the people following it. None of that is in the story.

The writing is pretty good. There is a rhyme to it and it's easy to read. Yeah, I must say the writing is good although the book could be a bit longer for a 4 year old and the story line could be a little better done as well. Overall, my five year old really likes the story. I think he is mostly fascinated by the idea of magic.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where The Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak

Looking for a scary monster book? This could be it.

Max, whom his mother called "Wild Thing", has misbehaved and was send to his room without dinner. His imagination takes him away to the land of the wild things and he becomes their king. Eventually, Max becomes home sick and smells food. After he travels back into reality, his supper is waiting for him.

This is a bit older of a book and I think it reflects in the language. There are words like 'mischief' and 'supper' being used, that I think are not very much used anymore. Certainly not with four year olds.

What we really like about this book is the scary factor. When Max encounters the wild things, it goes "they roar their terrible roars, they gnash their terrible teeth..." I read that and my boys run for hiding every time. Then I have to call them back so we can finish the book and they look most delighted.

The pictures of the monsters are great. They do look scary without looking gruesome. This book is a classic and we can confirm that it totally hits the spot for little boys.