Review Detail

The penguins are aghast - Frank has a bright red hat! Something bad happened to the only other penguin who touched it, so they all stay far away, no matter how many colorful hats Frank makes for them to try. But just when he's about to give up, he gets an unexpected pat on the shoulder that proves the power of perseverance and that rejection is sometimes the first step to success.

This is a quirky, fun story, with some alternately heartfelt and morbid twists. Got to say, I'd be on the same side as the other penguins if I saw one of the group come to sudden end after trying Frank's hat. Frank may not think everything through, but he's unafraid to be himself and pursues each new idea with single-minded enthusiasm. One knit hat quickly turns into two, then ten and more, a feeling that crafters know very well.

Along with the arctic animals, there's an emphasis on colors. The red hat is shocking in a world of snowy black and white, as is every color Frank tries after that (we don't ask where he sources his yarn, maybe the local penguin mart), and the minimal use of color makes for striking illustrations.