Mister Norton's New Hat

With a message of kindness and an accumulative text that begs to be read aloud, this is a future classic in the making.

One Monday morning, Horace Norton finds that a mouse has made a house in his hat. Now, this is something of a surprise . . .and it’s only the start of a wild week for the kind and calm Mister Norton, who, with each passing day, discovers more and more animals have moved in with him. From birds in his bicycle basket to squirrels in his shoes, not to mention the collection of cats curled up in his coat!

What will Mister Norton do when the animals take over his bathroom, his bed – and even HIS BEARD?Before biking to work one Monday, Mr. Norton grabs his new hat, only to find that it has become a mouse’s house. No matter! He wears it with the mouse on top. On Tuesday, he finds birds in his bicycle basket, but unperturbed, he cycles to work. On Wednesday, the squirrel in his shoe barely slows him down. Soon he has stoats in his satchel and cats clinging to his coat as well. On Saturday, he goes to take a bath and finds his tub full of animals. And polite Mr. Norton loudly shouts, “Enough!” Stunned, the animals leave. After a quiet but lonely day, kind Mr. Norton finds a way to accommodate them all. When the story begins, Mr. Norton appears to be a happy, energetic sort of person as he bicycles off to work. But as time goes by and the collection of animals grows, clearly a crisis is coming. Well-structured and rooted in folklore, the tale has a timeless quality. Egbert’s illustrations are nicely composed, fresh, and amusing. Fun for reading aloud. --Booklist


When Horace Norton finds a mouse in his hat, he lets it stay but quickly begins to accumulate animals.


Pale-skinned, mustachioed Mr. Norton—with a gray beard to match—is a kind man. So kind, in fact, that when he discovers that the little rodent has made a house in his hat, he leaves it be and makes his way to work. When he notices birds in his bicycle basket, he’s equally obliging; he also decides not to disturb the squirrel in his shoe, the stoats in his satchel, and the cats in his coat. Mr. Norton’s rising frustration with his growing zoo finally culminates in an explosive response: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” The animals scurry off, and Mr. Norton realizes just how loud and lonely silence can be. A surprising gift provides a welcome fix for his solitude. Children are sure to pick up on—and enjoy—the repetition and alliteration of this cumulative tale. Mr. Norton’s slim figure and long face give him a distinctive look. The animals who join his menagerie are adorable, making even their mischief sweet. Readers will enjoy lingering on the energetic, chaos-filled pages where the animals make mayhem.


Zany yet utterly sweet—and a winning combination of storytelling and visuals. (Picture book. 4-6)--Kirkus ReviewsHuw Lewis Jones teaches by day, writes by night, and leads expeditions to the North Pole on his vacations. He makes books for adults about maps and explorers, while for children it’s mostly been apples and badgers so far.

Corey Egbert is an illustrator based in Virginia. He believes in creating imaginative and hopeful art that empowers young people to make their world better. He lives with his wife, son, and three cats in a little house by the woods.