Mr. Bat Wants a Hat
What’s inside...
Mr. Bat is on a quest to find the perfect hat, which he believes is missing from his life. He eventually finds a pink hat adorned with roses and glitter that he falls in love with. Despite discovering that the hat belongs to someone else, Mr. Bat decides to keep it for himself. However, a part of him feels sympathy for the sad baby who also likes hats, but he chooses to ignore it and enjoys dancing in his new hat. This hilarious and heart-warming story encourages children to learn to think about others, empathy, and doing the right thing. The brightly colored illustrations combine with lively text to create a vibrant and thought-provoking bedtime story.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Mr. Bat wanted a hat so much? What does the hat mean to him?
How did Mr. Bat feel when he couldn't find the right hat? Have you ever felt that way?
What does the story teach us about patience and perseverance?
How did the other animals help Mr. Bat in his search for a hat?
If you could design a hat for Mr. Bat, what would it look like and why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive voices for different characters to make the reading more interactive and fun.
After reading, encourage your child to draw their version of Mr. Bat’s perfect hat and explain their design choices.
Discuss the importance of helping others, as shown by the animals who aided Mr. Bat, and ask your child about times they have helped someone.
Link the story to real-life situations by discussing a time your child wanted something badly and what they did to achieve it.
Praise your child's responses to develop their confidence in expressing their thoughts and feelings.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Sharing
Explanation: Mr. Bat learns the value of sharing when he realizes that he does not have enough hats for all his friends, so he decides to share his favorite hat.
Real-World Application: Children will learn to share their possessions with friends and understand the joy that comes from making others happy.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, Mr. Bat encounters various challenges in his quest to find a hat. He uses creative thinking and resourcefulness to overcome obstacles.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and creatively when faced with problems, both big and small.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Mr. Bat shows empathy by understanding how his friends feel about not having hats and decides to share his own to make them feel better.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of considering others' feelings and perspectives, fostering a more empathetic outlook in their interactions.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Mr. Bat does not give up in his search for the perfect hat, despite facing several setbacks.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of persistence and resilience in achieving goals, no matter the difficulties encountered.