Mr. Pockles is a dog who loves hats and has one for every occasion—from an Eating Cornflakes Hat to an In the Bath Hat and even a hat that is Too Special and is saved in a glass showcase. Mr. Pockles thinks his deep sadness is that he cannot wear them all at once. But the real sadness is that he is so busy with all his hats that he has no time to make friends.
His loneliness is only magnified when he hears about Hat Day at the PandaPolitan Club, an event for pandas only—and pandas, being very black and white about things, make no room for the likes of Mr. Pockles.
But as circumstance would have it Mr. Pockles meets Lady Firz-Tulip, a panda who, on her way to Hat Day meets up with a disaster that destroys her magnificent hat. Mr. Pockles’ heart melts when he hears Lady’s story, and he offers her his Too Special Hat.
This delightful story touches on themes of inclusivity and welcome. Author Sally Lloyd-Jones is well known for the Jesus Story Book Bible. David Litchfield’s illustrations are colorful and give added detail to the text. This book is sure to be enjoyed by children age 4-10. (Penguin Random House)
About the Author
Jenny deGroot is a freelance media review and news writer for The Banner. She lives on Swallowfield Farm near Fort Langley B.C. with her husband, Dennis. Before retirement she worked as a teacher librarian and assistant principal.