A Hat for Every Harriet

A Hat for Every Harriet by Jess Horn, illustrated by Zoë Bennett (Affirm Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781923293243

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Harriet has lots of different hats, such as her Sensible Hat for crossing the road, her Listener Hat for paying attention in class, and her Calm-Down Hat for upsetting situations. But when her class has to decorate the hall for the school dance, she doesn’t know which Harriet to be – so she piles all of the hats on top of her head. Before long, they fall with a crash! Her friend tells her to just be herself, so Harriet tiptoes into the dance without any hat at all. And she has fun as Just Harriet.

Crafted with care for kids aged four to eight, Jess Horn’s gentle text examines how neurodivergent children manage to navigate a world that is not made for them, and this encourages empathy and acceptance in neurotypical readers. But the story also empowers all youngsters to recognise their own worth, and to be brave enough to reveal their truth to others.

Zoë Bennett avoids intense visuals, using a delicate colour palette to complement the quiet consideration of the words. There is a delightful whimsy to the hat illustrations – big bunny ears for listening, a chequered cone for having fun – which is appealing. The characters ooze charm and connection, and this warmth washes over the pages and straight into readers’ hearts.

Children love to dress up, and A Hat for Every Harriet builds on this with an emotional layer of learning delivered in a kind and compassionate manner. This is the ideal book for anyone who is struggling with the weight of social expectations.

Wombat Dreaming

Wombat Dreaming by Caz Goodwin and Zoe Bennett (Affirm Press) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781923046603

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Everyone has something they are good at: sometimes it just takes a while to find that something. What might a wombat be good at?

Wombats are round and roly-poly. They are not known for their ability to balance or contort their bodies into different stretches, so why would Lil want to do yoga? It’s simple – all the other animals gather together every Sunday, down by the creek, to do yoga and Lil wants to join in.

It seems that each of the animals has their own signature yoga pose – from standing on one leg to an elegant downward dog. But Lil can’t do any of them.

Wombat Dreaming, by Caz Goodwin and Zoe Bennett is, first and foremost, a heartwarming story told with a rolling rhyme and accompanied by rich illustrations that radiate the Australian bush and landscape. Hidden beneath the story, the themes of resilience, individuality and inclusion are subtle, yet strong.

Caz Goodwin has taken a classic storyline – putting the main character in an unlikely situation that doesn’t fit their expected skillset – and made it her own. We love Lil straight away, feel for her when she thinks she’s failed and then celebrate when she succeeds.

Illustrator Zoe Bennett’s gorgeous pictures individualise the animals, ensuring they are all endearing as they demonstrate the tolerance and friendliness we so desperately need in our society.

And a yoga-loving wombat with her own signature pose? Who’d have thought it possible?

Wombat Dreaming is perfectly targeted at children aged from 3 to 7 years of age – and what better way to introduce a young generation to the benefits of mindfulness and yoga?