Written in prose instead of the trademark Seuss-rhyme, this story is set in feudal times in the Kingdom of Didd when a king ruled the land and had great power over his subjects. One day King Derwin, the mighty ruler of the land, is riding through the marketplace in his carriage and he passes Bartholomew Cubbins, a peasant boy, who has come to town to sell cranberries at the market.
Bartholomew is wearing a hat. The Captain of the King's Guard demands that Bartholomew remove his hat. "Hats off to the King." But, when Bartholomew tries to obey him and take off his hat, he discovers another hat sitting on his head.
Now the experts enter the picture. The King has young Bartholomew arrested and taken to the throne room where a stream of experts comes before the King and the boy with the hats.
56 pages 978-0394844848 Ages 5-9
Editor's note: illustrations are in black and white; told in narrative style; parents might want to pre-read this to decide if their children are up for the king threatening to cut off Bartholomew's head.
Recommended by: Barb Langridge, abookandahug.com