Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends.
Do you like rhyme? Do you like repetition? I sure do…and so do young children. And that’s why I’m featuring this new book, HIP HIP BERET from author Melanie Ellsworth who stopped by 2 weeks ago for a Book Birthday post when her other picture book launched, CLARINET AND TRUMPET. What’s really special (other than that they are both great books) is that both books are touchy-feely books…this one has soft berets – young kids will LOVE that. And I know all of you will love the fact that Melanie and her publisher are offering a copy of HIP, HIP, BERET as a giveaway prize!
HIP, HIP, BERET
Written by Melanie Ellsworth
Illustrated by Morena Forza
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2021)
Ages: 4-7
Themes: Persistence, humor, rhyme
Synopsis: From HMH –
A playful and humorous picture book about what happens to Bella’s beret when the wind sweeps it away.
Granpère gifts Bella the hat she’d always wanted–a beret! But just as she places it on her head, a gust of wind whisks it away. When the beret accidentally lands in a chef’s pan . . . hip, hip, souflée! When it mistakenly lands on the head of a dancer . . . hip, hip, ballet! The wind continues to sweep the hat farther and farther away. Will Bella ever get back her beloved beret?
Children will love to read aloud this humorous and heartfelt story filled with repetition, rhyme, and hilarious wordplay.
Why I Love This Book:
- Rhyme, repetition, heart and humor – need I say more? The text flows so smoothly and is so much fun to read-aloud!
- The illustrations engage – the colors pop – kids will fall in love with Bella and cheer her on as she tries to retrieve her beloved beret.
- This book is interactive…with swatches of softness that invite young listeners to touch and feel.
RELATED RESOURCES:
MAKE A BERET

Instruction details for a paper plate beret
Instruction details for a felt beret
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I’ve been having lots of fun distributing the prizes for #50PreciousWords – thank you again to the generous prize donors who have been so responsive. The coming week is going to be a busy one – it’s income tax time (mine is already mailed away) and I have some eye surgery coming up next week…fingers crossed all goes well. And please make sure you leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway – maybe you can tell us about your favorite type of hat – plus share the post on social media for extra chances to win.
My favorite hat was a crocheted elephant beanie that I made in support of the Oakland A’s
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There might be a picture book in that!
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I like my big, floppy sun hat.
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Now you’ve got me thinking of summer adventures!
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Super congratulations on your new book. My fav hat is a full snow hat that I bought for a trip to Alaska.
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Thanks, Jay! I spend a lot of time wearing winter hats here in Maine.
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This looks like a sweet book and I look forward to reading it! I recently discovered that my maiden name (Coppola) means little round hat or little round hat maker in Italian, so I guess little round hats are my new favorite 😉.
Best wishes on your eye surgery, Vivian!
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What a great story about your maiden name, Lauri!
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This sounds adorable! Gotta say my favourite hat is a toque!
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Thanks, Jocelyn! I just learned a new hat term. Apparently, it’s a synonym for “beanie,” which I do know.
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Sounds great I love rhyme.
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I hope you enjoy the book, Thelia!
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Congratulations, Melanie and Morena. I can’t wait to read your joyful book.
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Many thanks! I do hope it brings a bit of joy.
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This sounds so cute! I’m looking forward to reading it!
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Thanks so much, Becky!
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This book sounds so cute!! I cannot wait to read it. My favorite type of hat is definitely a big floppy sunhat for a day on the beach!
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Thanks, Steph. Maybe the beret book needs a sunhat sequel!
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This looks like such a cute story! Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks very much!
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Love rhyming books! My favorite hat is a denim sun hat that I wear on all my hikes!
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Thanks, Marla. I’m a baseball hat hiker!
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My favorite hat is my newsie cap! My friend borrowed it once for a costume party to be a Newsie and met his future wire there who was also a Newsie. Now I consider it my lucky hat!
(Hope to win this book for my daughter, she would love it!)
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It’s a good look! Hope you get a chance to read the book with your daughter. She can search for the 2 fuzzy berets inside.
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My favorite hat is my wide-brimmed sun hat that keeps my face from burning and provides shade for reading outside. I will be keeping you in my prayers that your surgery goes well! I can’t wait to read this book as mentor text and shared on tumblr: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/648004090959413248/via-perfect-picture-book-friday-hip-hip-beret
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Thanks so much for sharing, Danielle! Hats that provide shade for reading – perfect!
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So cute! I do love hats and berets bring so many smiles. My favorite in the summer is my wide-brimmed gardening hat, when hiking my cool hiking hat, and in winter, my Seahawks warm hat. Love the cute craft!
Prayers for your surgery and the busy week!
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A hat for every season – that’s the way to go!
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I cant wait to se Melanie’s book! I’m not much of a hat wearer, but I’d love to have a few moments with the sorting hat.
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Thanks, David. I love it – a hat that’s simultaneously terrifying and wonderful!
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Can’t wait to read the book. Congrats Melanie!
My favorite hat is my bright floppy sun hat.
Vivian, good luck with the eye surgery.
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Thanks, Rathi! Sounds like a colorful hat – the best kind!
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I loved berets as a youngster. In fact, I lost one that my Mom gave to me. I cried for days. She and it were very special to me.
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Oh dear! I hope you have a photo of it. Well, you will definitely be able to relate to this book, then!
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I love the playfulness of this story, so well done with the repetition and rhyme. Definitely a terrific read aloud!
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Thank you, Jilianne. It’s really fun to picture this being read aloud, and hopefully children will chime in and maybe even do some rhyme guessing!
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I love berets! Can’t wait to read this one!
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Then this book is for you, Lizzie!
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Congratulations to Melanie and thanks to Vivian for highlighting such a delightful book! Speedy recovery Vivian.
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Thank you, Claire! I second your wishes to Vivian.
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I live in hats! I have one that is old, ugly, floppy, and dirty as can be that I wear fishing! I should be embarrassed, I suppose, but I am invoking old people’s privilege!
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The old, dirty, well-worn hats always fit the best! I have an old baseball cap with fraying brim that’s perfect when walking the dog.
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I was fortunate enough to win a copy of this book already, and it’s terrific! Great rhymes and a lot of kid appeal. (As for my own hats, I live a few hours south of the Arctic Circle, so I’ve acquired a large supply of warm and wooly knit caps.)
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Thanks for taking time to share that, Janet! I really appreciate it. It was fun to send you a book in Alaska!
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Congratulations Melanie! Your new book looks fabulous. And it was great timing as today was crazy hat day at school. I wore a kelly green golf hat embroidered with shamrocks. I only have golf hats!
Best of luck Vivian with your surgery. Travel
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Thanks, Mary. I love the idea of a crazy hat day – every school should do that!
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Congratulations, Melanie! Your book looks adorable! I’ve been wearing my sun hat at the beach this week while on vacation. I’m looking forward to reading it!
Sending best wishes, Vivian, on your upcoming surgery.
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Thanks, Judy, and that sounds like a perfect vacation hat!
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PB’s written in rhyme are delightful! They are the perfect read aloud! Looking forw to reading “Hip, Hip Beret”!!
When I was in grade school, my favorite hat was a white “tammy” (that’s what my mom called it! nI wore it everywhere! 🙂
Vivian ,sending prayers for a successful eye surgery!
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You’ve reminded me of a tam I wore in middle school for heritage day!
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Vivian, I was drawn in immediately by the cover and title. Great review & fun activity. I am looking forward to reading this one!
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Thanks, Maria. I love the perspective Morena used on the cover!
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What a lovely book. I love a stetson.
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Thanks, Linda. My dad would agree with you on your hat choice!
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I foresee berets making a comeback world-wide! My mom loved wearing them, finding them chic,warm & fun. Me– I love a quirky ball cap or a hand-knitted Irish woolie☘️
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Berets take over the world – I love it!
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Hats are just not a good look for me but I’m always envious of those who can pull them off!
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Maybe hat earrings would work? 🙂
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What a joyful cover! I love berets. It’s gorgeous and hints that the story is very playful! Look forward to sharing this story with a granddaughter.
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Thank you, Patricia. Morena did a wonderful job matching the illustrations to the tone of the text. I hope your granddaughter enjoys reading it with you!
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This sounds wonderful! I always love hearing about new rhyming PBs coming into the world to deflate the myth that editors don’t want rhyming PBs! Congrats on this one. Can’t wait to read it! Oh, and my favorite hat is my Thinking Cap! 🙂
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
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Every writer should have a thinking cap! This book has a repeating rhyming phrase without typical rhyming stanzas, so it’s a mix of prose and rhyme. I agree that there’s plenty of demand for rhyme among readers, so I’m glad that writers persist!
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Makes me picture the opening credits of the Mary Tyler Moore show- a celebration of life, self, and… berets!
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Such a wonderful image!
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What an adorable title
For a book. My favorite hat was the winter hat my little one wore that made her giggle. Every time she squeezed the tail the wings on the Pegasus hat would “fly”. Who doesn’t love a silly hat?
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That sounds like the best hat ever, Shannon!
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I’ve been wanting to read this one and the rhymes used for beret. Congratulations!
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Thanks, Ashley! I hope you enjoy it!
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This sounds adorable and right up my alley! I went to a party that required wearing a “fascinator”. I loved that hat! Best wishes!
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I’ve just learned a new hat term! Those sure look like fun to wear!
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For fun….I have a turkey hat, a lobster hat, a bowler hat and can seen always wearing a hat any time of the year. I do not have a beret… so I will need to get one, Hip hip hooray!
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Sounds like you’re prepared for any occasion, but you definitely need to add a beret to that collection!
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What a cute and fun idea!!! Oh the places a hat can go!!
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Thanks, Meredith!
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The book sounds very interesting! Thank you for the giveaway!
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Thanks, Riza!
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