William Stieg

When trying to decide which book to spotlight in honor of Hat Day, it was easy to pick When Everybody Wore a Hat ($8) by author/illustrator William Steig.

We've all heard the, "Back when I was young" stories and have probably started to relay them to our own children. Steig, who contributed 1600 illustrations to the New Yorker starting in 1930, also wanted to share his past with the future. The book begins with,

"This is a story of when I was a boy, 100 years ago, when fire engines were pulled by horses, boys did not play with girls, kids went to libraries for books, there was no tv, you could see a movie for a nickel, and everybody wore a hat. – William Steig"

To give your lil ones some insight into history, and hats of course, buy them this treasure of a book so they can enjoy learning about times past and enjoy the beautiful illustrations. It might even make them appreciate all of the spoils they take for granted every day.

As leaves fall off the trees, there are less opportunities to go outside and let off steam. Add kids with cabin fever to the mix and the whole house will start to go batty. We always encourage reading but
Pete's a Pizza ($12) is especially useful on a dank day.

The book is a diamond in the rough. One of my former first-grade students gave me this board book as it was her "very favorite book ever!" and it quickly became one of my own.

Pete's plans to play football with pals are wrecked by the rain, leaving him bored at home. Until Pete's clever and funny father tells him it's time to make a pizza. So they make one, but not out of dough and tomato sauce. The family creates one with objects from around the house. This cheers Pete up and becomes a bonding experience for his whole family.

After you read the book to your tot, you can play along by making a pizza out of your kiddo, too.