When Everybody Wore a Hat

Reach for this book when your child starts asking questions about what life was like back in the olden days or when they are curious about their own family history. In this charming memoir, legendary illustrator William Steig transports readers to 1916 New York, a world before television where everyone wore a hat and children played in the bustling city streets. It is a gentle window into a vanished era, emphasizing the warmth of a close knit immigrant family and the simple wonders of a childhood defined by imagination rather than technology. While the setting is historical, the emotional core is deeply relatable for children ages 4 to 9. Steig captures the humor and occasional chaos of family life, from sibling squabbles to the bustling energy of a holiday meal. Parents will find this an ideal tool for opening conversations about their own childhoods or for helping children connect with the lived experiences of their grandparents and great-grandparents. It is a celebratory, nostalgic look at how much the world has changed, while reminding us that the love within a family remains constant.