When Everybody Wore a Hat

by William Steig, William Steig (Illustrator)

Overview

This is the story of when I was a boy, almost 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.

When Everybody Wore a Hat was one of celebrated author/artist William Steig's last gifts to the world of children's books: a portrait of the artist himself, told in Steig's signature quirky words and illustrations. Now in paperback, this funny, poignant, and revealing picture book has all the vitality and wit of a Steig classic.

Ages 2+

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060097028
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/26/2005
Series:	Rise and Shine
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,090,708
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

William Steig's drawings appeared regularly in The New Yorker since 1930. He also wrote and illustrated books for children, most recently his memoir, When Everybody Wore a Hat. His other books include Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, winner of the Caldecott Medal; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books; Doctor De Soto Goes to Africa; Pete's A Pizza; and Zeke Pippin.

William Steig's drawings appeared regularly in The New Yorker since 1930. He also wrote and illustrated books for children, most recently his memoir, When Everybody Wore a Hat. His other books include Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, winner of the Caldecott Medal; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor Book; and Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor Books; Doctor De Soto Goes to Africa; Pete's A Pizza; and Zeke Pippin.

Table of Contents

The Barnes & Noble Review
Renowned author-illustrator William Steig reminisces about his Bronx childhood in this turn-of-the-century-themed picture book.

Beginning with a photo of young Steig climbing a tree, the author's walk down memory lane includes colorful characters and various scenes from his youth, all accompanied by the author's familiar art style. Vignettes depicting his family, neighborhood folks, and notable events reflect the upbeat times of his childhood -- like getting his first haircut ("I got my first haircut at Ditchick's Barbershop.... I got to listen to all kinds of stories") and Prince, the janitor's dog ("Kids were scared of him") -- while others evoke darker memories, such as his parents' quarrels and news of the bloody war overseas. But the book's true message lies at the end, though, where a simple drawing of an eight-year-old Steig shows him at the beginning of a successful future, alongside a photo of "me today, without a hat."

An interesting look at kids' lives in early-1900s New York City, When Everybody Wore a Hat will resonate with Steig's fans. The author's text reads as if he's bringing up fond memories as they come to mind, while his illustrations portray a youthful playfulness. A pleasant autobiography from a legendary talent. Matt Warner

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
Renowned author William Steig takes us back to an earlier time when "there was no TV" in this picture book filled with reminisces about his Bronx childhood.

Beginning with a photo of young Steig climbing a tree, the author's walk down memory lane includes colorful characters and various scenes from his youth, all accompanied by the author's familiar art style. Vignettes depicting his family, neighbors and notable events reflect the upbeat times of his childhood -- like getting his first haircut ("I got my first haircut at Ditchick's Barbershop.... I got to listen to all kinds of stories") and Prince, the janitor's dog ("Kids were scared of him") -- while others are darker, such as his parents' quarrels and news of the bloody war overseas. But the book's true message lies at the end where a simple drawing of an eight-year-old Steig shows him at the beginning of a successful future, alongside a photo of "me today, without a hat."

An interesting look at kids' lives in early-1900s New York City, When Everybody Wore a Hat will resonate with Steig's fans. The author's text reads as if he's bringing up fond memories as they come to mind, while his illustrations portray a youthful playfulness. A pleasant autobiography from a legendary talent. Matt Warner

bn.com

Some guys can't seem to do anything wrong. Consider William Steig, born in 1907. It would not be unreasonable to expect, in view of his prodigious output of books for children, that he would produce a clinker now and then. Even van Gogh had his bad days. But Steig never disappoints, and his latest concoction, a witty memoir in pictures called When Everybody Wore a Hat, is especially winning. — Edward Sorel

The New York Times

In our Best Books citation, PW wrote, "With his signature mix of charm and directness, Steig reflects on his Bronx childhood." All ages. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 1 Up-In 1916, Steig was eight years old. This autobiography describes that year of his life. The somewhat disjointed recollections are recounted in a stream-of-consciousness style and will evoke nostalgia in adults and surprise in children-fire engines pulled by horses, five-cent movies and hot dogs, no TV, a wind-up phonograph. Like elementary school drawings taped to the refrigerator, the childlike, watercolor artwork that accompanies the memories features flattened tables, nostrils on the sides of noses, and a sidewalk extending up into the air. Yet the illustrations' na vet belies their underlying sophistication. With a few spare lines, the artist manages to convey body language, facial expression, and gesture. For example, the picture of young Steig clinging to his sister as his parents fight is poignant; the eyes may be simple dots inside ovals, but they convey worlds of information about the children's anxiety. There were upbeat times for the family as well, in spite of the ongoing World War I. Steig reveals his childhood crush, daily activities, and dreams for the future. Black-and-white photos of the author on the first and last pages (one as a child and one as he appears now) and the cover art (front and back views of a youngster in a hat) bring this reminiscence full circle. Given the subject matter and lack of plot, this book seems aimed at Steig's adult fans.-Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Between portrait photos taken almost nine decades apart, Steig crustily introduces his Mom, his Pop, and his childhood world--a world where "there were almost no electric lights, cars or telephones--and definitely no TV." Like his prose, his cartoons are sketchy and childlike, passing with a turn of the page from a gory, imagined battlefield scene to views of the janitor’s tough-looking dog and other neighborhood pets. He barely shows or mentions siblings, friends, or his Bronx neighborhood--and even younger viewers will notice that, despite the title, many of his figures are hatless. So what will children get from this? Next to that whippersnapper James Stevenson’s When I Was Nine (1986), but still distant, generation, not much more than the bare hint that Steig, too, was young. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews