Product Description

When Aunt Flossie"s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) was first published in 1991, it met with an overwhelming response from readers and reviewers alike. Here was "a wonderful family story," as The Horn Book Magazine said, "set matter-of-factly in an African-American environment." Since then, the story of Sarah and Susan"s Sunday afternoon with their great-great-aunt Flossie—and her many hats and stories—has become a favorite book for sharing and for initiating conversations about family history. For this celebratory 10th anniversary edition, Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard has written a special eight-page afterword, illustrated with family photographs, in which she tells about her own family history and the real Aunt Flossie, a truly remarkable woman.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224336 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780618120383
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
For Sarah and Susan, a visit to their great-great-aunt Flossie is a literal and figurative feast. After tea and cookies, and before crabcakes, they are permitted to look through Aunt Flossie's prodigious collection of hats and try on their favorites. "Each hat has its story," says Aunt Flossie, as she relates tales of the old days--the big Baltimore fire, the parade at the end of WW I and, best of all, a story the girls can help tell because they are in it. This is an affecting portrait of a black American family and of the ways in which shared memories can be a thread, invisible yet strong, that ties generations together. Howard's ( Chita's Christmas Tree ) quiet, sure telling is well matched by Ransome's ( Do Like Kyla ) art--elegant, expressive oil paintings that convey warmth, joy, tenderness and love. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- On Sunday afternoon, two little girls visit their Great-great-aunt Flossie, whose house is full of books, pictures, and "boxes and boxes and boxes of HATS," each of which has a story to go along with it. A woolly winter hat still smelling faintly of smoke was worn by Aunt Flossie when, as a child, she witnessed the great Baltimore fire. The dark blue one with a red feather was perched on her head when, as a young woman, she watched a parade welcoming home black veterans of World War I. These reminiscences paint an interesting portrait of regional African-American history, but the highlight of the book is the girls' favorite story, which features themselves and the day the wind blew Aunt Flossie's best Sunday hat into the river. Based on Howard's memories of her own feisty, 98-year-old aunt, this is a lyrical, entertaining story that rings with authenticity. Ransome's distinguished oil paintings are gorgeous, but frustratingly dark at times. A compelling book that will draw readers back again and again. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"A picture book warmly expressive of personal history and intergenerational affection." -- Review

Customer Reviews

Developing a hatbox project
I first bought this book as a requirement for an elementary education course. When it was time for me to develop a back pack project (take home activity projects) for my students...this one was soooo easy to use. I made mine a "hatbox project." Since the girls in the story, Sarah and Susan, visit Aunt Flossie and listen to her tell the history of her hats, I had my students take home a hatbox full of art supplies and a hat. Each student had to decorate a hat that represented themselves. Then, they had to write the history of their hats and share it with their classmates. It was a great success!

A wonderful door for children to enter the idea of the past.
I read this book to my fourth grade class as an introduction to our study of history. It began a great discussion about the past, what people remember, and why. We also talked about families and how we are connected to each other. The book beautifully illustrates how a family history develops from the stories we tell each other. It's a book to be shared with the children you care about.

warm and endearing
I am a mother of an 2yr old boy and a 4yr old girl. They both love this story. The audio tape is done very well and it really captures the sounds and emotions of each event Aunt Flossie's recalls. My children have there own tapeplayer and they play it over and over. My husband and I like the music in the story so we don't mind the children's constant replay.

I highly recommend this book to any one who enjoys an great story from a special aunt. I strongly recommend the book and tape for littles ones who love repettion and parents who don't.