  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 11/01/2012 It’s bad enough that Justin has lost the hat his grandmother made for him. Even worse, he needs to find it before her upcoming visit. After searching his classroom and the playground, he takes the dreaded walk down the “scary hallway behind the cafeteria” to ask Mr. Rumkowsky if he can check the lost and found. The crusty old custodian lets Justin dig down into the enormous box, which holds decades of lost items. As he sifts through the treasures, Justin makes a surprising discovery. A three-page wordless story, featuring Mr. Rumkowksy and told in comics-style panels, ends the book on an amusing note. Telling a realistic tale of fears faced and rewards earned, this picture book has its own hidden treasures, revealed in the understated first-person narrative and realistic dialogue. Gustavson’s well-composed paintings bring the story to life on the page through expressive character portrayal and the clever details of setting (duct tape on the custodian’s chair). An excellent read-aloud choice for classroom or library. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. School Library Journal - 02/01/2013 K-Gr 2—Harley has created an easily relatable story about a lost winter hat. Lovingly crafted by Justin's grandmother, who will soon visit, the gift causes the youngster several moments of consternation during his search for it at school. Finally, he gathers his courage to ask Mr. Rumkowsky, who is in charge of the Lost and Found, if it is there. Gustavson fills the pages with oil paintings that have varying perspectives. Particularly amusing is the gigantic box that stores all the lost items (the upside-down alert printed on its side reads: "Caution. Circus Animals. This side up"). Children will feel the ominous glare from the custodian, a Wilford Brimley lookalike sporting a full white walrus mustache, as he waits for Justin to go through the plethora of hilarious articles collected throughout the years. When Gran arrives, readers will grasp the joke and have an additional laugh as they view the artwork on the final pages. The large-size font will be an aid to those learning to read using the picture clues. A welcome addition.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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