There once was a man who made hats of all shades,

Some styled for balls, and some for parades.

Each day the man sat with needle and thread,

Every stitch a masterpiece, fit for a head!

The Hat Maker's Hats is about a man who makes hats and gives them away for free.  Everyone seems to appreciate his gifts.  But then one day people begin to demand that he do better, and give them what they want rather than what he's offering.  The hat maker becomes discouraged, and wonders if it's even worth making hats anymore.

When faced with opposition, it is easy to lose faith in your abilities.  But why do we do what we love?  Is it to please others, or is it to fulfill a need inside us?

As I leave home I hear my mom say,

“When you don’t know what to do, Always Fly Away.”

Always Fly Away is written in rhyming verse and tells the story from the perspective of a young bird named Stella.  She leaves home to meet a friend by the creek, and there she is greeted by a kind-looking cat.  The cat seems gentle and asks for Stella’s help, but Stella remembers the advice her mother gives her every time she goes out, “Do not go with strangers: always fly away!”  Stella must keep her distance, stay alert, and fly away in order to escape the cat before he shows his true intentions.

Always Fly Away teaches children important lessons about who a stranger is—it does not matter what they look like, a stranger is someone a parent or guardian has not introduced to you.  Not only does the story teach child safety through the example of a lovable protagonist, but it also contains questions and instructions at the end of the book to review with the child reading it.

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