(as Bear) You, you stole my hat.ĭouble-page spread. He runs past the Armadillo - or whatever it is that, we are not sure confronts the Bunny. PINKWATER: (as Bear) It is red and pointy and - the bear sits up. SIMON: (as Elk) What does your hat look like? PINKWATER: (as Bear) I have lost my hat, and nobody has seen it. PINKWATER: It's an ungulate, and that's OK to say, too. SIMON: A good - a great rack, in any case, which is what they say in the forest. PINKWATER: Or a deer or a moose, I don't know. What if I never see it again? My poor hat. Now the bear is lying on his back in the weeds he's thoroughly depressed. what would an armadillo be doing in a forest? I think it might be an armadillo - although. PINKWATER: I was thinking maybe an armadillo. PINKWATER: I don't know what this animal is. SIMON: The suspense is really building, yeah? PINKWATER: (as Bear) My hat doesn't look like that. And of course, the snake - as is their wont - is upside down, hanging from a tree. PINKWATER: (as Bear) Would you like me to lift you on top of it? SIMON: (as Turtle) I haven't seen anything all day. Why are you asking me? I haven't seen it. Now he runs into a rabbit who strangely is wearing a little, pointy, red hat himself and he says, have you seen my hat? PINKWATER: (as Bear) Have you seen my hat? PINKWATER: He's looking as - dumber than any real bear could be and he says, my hat is gone, I want it back. For one thing, I can wear a bear suit without any padding. PINKWATER: Well, there's reasons for that. I play the rest of the forest, but you are always the bear. SIMON: You are always the bear, I've noticed. I understand I am to give voice to the bear. SIMON: Well, let's begin to read and describe the pictures for. PINKWATER: The book we're going to do is a book that relies heavily on art.

And I want to share with you what I have concluded about picture books with all this experience. PINKWATER: Plus, I have worked on books with some of the finest illustrators. PINKWATER: I have written, and-or written and illustrated, dozens of picture books. PINKWATER: Over the years, I have looked at - Scott - thousands of picture books.

And I wish to make a statement to no particular purpose. Daniel, thanks for being with us.ĭANIEL PINKWATER: Scott, it's always my great, great pleasure. He joins us from his home in upstate New York. He's our ambassador to the world of children's literature. The book is called 'I want my Hat Back.' It's by Jon Klassen. There's a new book for children about a bear who's lost his hat.

I want my hat back