The red hat

The Red Hat by David Teague tells a complex story of determination and the pursuit of friendship in very few words. Economic text expresses a great deal in few words; even the main character's name--Billy Hightower--evokes an entire background for the boy about whom the author tells us almost nothing. Illustrator Antoinette Portis' minimal use of color keeps focus on the hat (heart?) as it moves throughout the story, and the glossed wind swirls on each page engage the reader's eye in the movement being portrayed. Powerful in its simplicity.