Dressing up story time

The hero of Judy Palaferro’s latest book, “Horace’s Big Hat” (Umbrage), actually wears many different hats. And each transports him — along with his imagination, of course — to a new, lavishly illustrated environment. While there are the hats you would expect — like a firefighter’s helmet or chef’s toque — Horace also sports a turban while riding a majestic elephant in India and an astronaut’s helmet while floating in space. Parents can make story time more engaging for their 2- to 5-year-old tots by encouraging them to choose and learn the names of the many objects in these dense, vibrant pictures. Hats off to Palaferro for a fun read!

“Horace’s Big Hat” by Judy Palaferro, $16.95. For info, visit www.umbragebooks.com.