Product Description

When Aunt Flossies Hats (and Crab Cakes Later) was first published in 1991, it met with an overwhelming response from readers and reviewers alike. Here was "a wonderful family story," as The Horn Book Magazine said, "set matter-of-factly in an African-American environment." Since then, the story of Sarah and Susans Sunday afternoon with their great-great-aunt Flossie-and her many hats and stories-has become a favorite book for sharing and for initiating conversations about family history. For this celebratory 10th anniversary edition, Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard has written a special eight-page afterword, illustrated with family photographs, in which she tells about her own family history and the real Aunt Flossie, a truly remarkable woman.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1406608 in Books
• Published on: 2000-12-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

From Publishers Weekly
For Sarah and Susan, a visit to their great-great-aunt Flossie is a literal and figurative feast. After tea and cookies, and before crabcakes, they are permitted to look through Aunt Flossie's prodigious collection of hats and try on their favorites. "Each hat has its story," says Aunt Flossie, as she relates tales of the old days--the big Baltimore fire, the parade at the end of WW I and, best of all, a story the girls can help tell because they are in it. This is an affecting portrait of a black American family and of the ways in which shared memories can be a thread, invisible yet strong, that ties generations together. Howard's ( Chita's Christmas Tree ) quiet, sure telling is well matched by Ransome's ( Do Like Kyla ) art--elegant, expressive oil paintings that convey warmth, joy, tenderness and love. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- On Sunday afternoon, two little girls visit their Great-great-aunt Flossie, whose house is full of books, pictures, and "boxes and boxes and boxes of HATS," each of which has a story to go along with it. A woolly winter hat still smelling faintly of smoke was worn by Aunt Flossie when, as a child, she witnessed the great Baltimore fire. The dark blue one with a red feather was perched on her head when, as a young woman, she watched a parade welcoming home black veterans of World War I. These reminiscences paint an interesting portrait of regional African-American history, but the highlight of the book is the girls' favorite story, which features themselves and the day the wind blew Aunt Flossie's best Sunday hat into the river. Based on Howard's memories of her own feisty, 98-year-old aunt, this is a lyrical, entertaining story that rings with authenticity. Ransome's distinguished oil paintings are gorgeous, but frustratingly dark at times. A compelling book that will draw readers back again and again. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ingram
Sunday afternoons are Sarah and Susan's favorite time of the week. That's when they visit Great-great-aunt Flossie--and hear her stories about days of long ago, when she was young. American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Parents' Choice Picture Book Award. Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. Full-color illustrations.

Customer Reviews

Excellent story
No, it's not an Arthur or Clifford the Big Red Dog book. The illustrations are more like oil paintings than cartoons. It may not grab your child's attention right away. But this is a beautiful story that should not be missed.

In an age where kids are more interested in the newest PlayStation games than their own heritage, it's refreshing to read a tale of 2 girls that visit their Great-Great Aunt Flossie every Sunday. Along with other cool things in her house, Aunt Flossie has box after box of hats, and these hats are Aunt Flossie's memories. A hat with a slightly smokey smell was what Flossie wore when she and her Mama huddled outside the great Baltimore fire, hoping her Uncle's store wouldn't burn down. One particular hat lost in the creek at a Sunday picnic was rescued by a boy. Slowly, these girls are learning Auntie Flossie's memories and experiences, stories they no doubt would pass on to future generations. After these stories, they all go out for some famous Maryland crabcakes.

It's not just the stories, but the regular Sunday visits and crabcakes that I really enjoyed. It's a ritual, something kept up even though these girls and Flossie are 3 generations apart. This story stresses the need for families to spend time together no matter how big the age gap. Reading this book to my children every night will become my newest ritual.

warm and endearing
I am a mother of an 2yr old boy and a 4yr old girl. They both love this story. The audio tape is done very well and it really captures the sounds and emotions of each event Aunt Flossie's recalls. My children have there own tapeplayer and they play it over and over. My husband and I like the music in the story so we don't mind the children's constant replay.

I highly recommend this book to any one who enjoys an great story from a special aunt. I strongly recommend the book and tape for littles ones who love repettion and parents who don't.

First Rate Illustrations But Tedious Story
Probably appropriate for 5-8 yrs. This story is very slow going for 4 year olds, and younger. They'll grow quickly bored, even though the illustrations are very good.

The story centers around two young girls, Sarah and Susan who go to visit their Great-great-aunt Flossie. Aunt Flossie has a large collection of hats and has a mildly amusing, but forgetable story that goes with each hat. She retells a couple of stories to the girls, and they all go out for crab cakes.

There are so many other childrens books that your children will enjoy more, that make this one worth skipping.