A chain reaction of events is set off when a squirrel takes off his red bowler hat and leaves it on the ground to mark the place where he has buried an acorn. First the wind blows the hat up into a tree where a bird uses it as a nest. Then it falls from the tree into a stream where an ant uses it as a boat. A series of natural events continually move the hat from animal to animal—each one declaring “Finders keepers!” before putting it to good use, until the hat finally comes full circle and lands right back on top of the buried acorn to be found—and kept—by the squirrel who had placed it there. Keiko Kasza’s signature illustration style using anthropomorphized animals set against a stark white background is coupled with her pleasingly patterned narrative to make this a great choice for story times. And as with most Kasza picture books, there is a satisfying and humorous twist at the end. (Ages 2–5)

Fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will love this new preschool gem from beloved storyteller Keiko Kasza

A hat is not just a hat in these woods!

From tree branch to stream to flower patch—wherever the hat lands, someone knows exactly what to do with it and exclaims, “Finders, keepers!”

But this red hat doesn’t stay in one place for long, and everyone will be surprised by what happens to it in the end.

Youngsters will be delighted by the silly scenes and clever twists and turns in this charming circular story.