The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is an early, lesser-known but quintessential Dr. Seuss story that tackles themes of injustice and the abuse of power with his signature zany humor. Young Bartholomew Cubbins finds himself in a predicament when he tries to remove his hat for King Derwin, only for another to magically appear in its place. This leads to escalating frustration from the king and a comical, suspenseful journey for Bartholomew. It's a fantastic read-aloud for ages 6-9, prompting discussions about fairness, standing up for oneself, and the absurdity of rigid rules, all wrapped in a delightful, imaginative narrative.

As topical today as when it was first published in 1938, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is the story of a young peasant (the same as in Bartholomew and the Oobleck—a Caldecott Honor Award-winner), and his unjust treatment at the hands of King Derwin. While The 500 Hats is one of Dr. Seuss's earliest and lesser known works, it is nevertheless totally Seussian and addresses subjects that we know the good doctor was passionate about throughout his life: the abuse of power (as in Yertle the Turtle and Horton Hears a Who); rivalry (as in The Sneetches); and of course, zany good humor (as in The Cat in the Hat and the 43 other books he wrote and illustrated)! Available for a limited time only, this is a perfect way to introduce new readers to an old classic, or to reward existing fans.