Childrens Book-The Runaway Hat Poem by Christine K. Trease

On a warm spring day in the middle of May, Albert Ape grabbed and apple and went on his way.
He wanted to visit the city’s great zoo to observe all the animals act as they do.

The first thing he saw was the old fishing hole. Billy Bear on the bank was baiting his pole.
Albert thought to himself, “I should go for a swim, ” when a loud sobbing noise distracted him.

He looked on the bench by the old oak tree, what in the world did Albert Ape see?
Cathy Cat sat there crying a long, sad boo-hoo. I’ve sat on my hat, now what do I do?

Dilly Dog was digging to bury a treasure, when he heard the cat’s cries and went over to help her.
“Albert, ” said Dilly, “Why is Cathy so sad? ” Then he saw her smashed hat and he said, “This is bad! ”

Edward Eel slithered over to eye what was wrong. It took him a while since an eel is so long.
Once he arrived, which took him a bit, he saw what had thrown Cathy Cat in a snit.

Filbert Finch flew right by and snatched Cathy’s hat before Albert or Dilly or Edward could act.
He was flipping and flapping and trying to shape it when it flew from his beak and he could not save it.

It fell at the hooves of Gary the Goat who was grazing on grass by the old castle moat.
Gary thought to himself, “Now there’s a fine lunch” as he gaily galloped over and started to munch.

Just as the goat continued to feast Harold Hound hurried by on his Harley, the beast!
He hastily scooped up the hat with his paw jerking it out of the goat’s hungry jaw!

Ivan Iguana wasn’t in the right place and you should have seen the shocked look on his face.
When Harold the Hound came speeding on by, with the hat in his paw, which left Ivan wide-eyed.

Jacob the Jackal was just hanging out, he decided to see what the fuss was about.
Jacob jumped from his den just as Harold flew past - he was jostled about from the Harley’s loud blast.

Kate Kangaroo was kissing her child, when along came the Harley with Harold so wild.
The dog and the wind were having a race then the hat flew away as it zoomed to first place.

Larry the Leopard was leaping and laughing, when along came the hat with the wind wildly slapping.
The wind threw the hat onto Larry’s shocked head. The embarrassed old leopard went straight off to bed.

Mary the Martin was making her way to the old leopard’s lair to visit that day.
When she spied Larry Leopard adorned in the hat and she laughed right out loud, “What do you think of that? ”

The embarrassed old leopard threw the hat to the wind and the whole episode started over again.
Norman the Newt, who was new to them all, was quietly climbing the dusty old wall.

The hat flew right by him and gave him a whack. It knocked Norman down from the wall to his back.
Oliver Owl, who did not like to play, was singing an overture on this fine day.

When the runaway hat interrupted his singing off he flew after it angrily winging.
Peter Panda was proudly displaying his painting, when the hat knocked it over, causing his fainting.

Quinton the Quail was quietly seeing the destruction the hat did create with its being.
He looked at it queerly and started to pounce, but off went the hat with a flip and a bounce.

Rowdy the Rooster was ready at will to jump on the hat and peck it with his bill.
When the hat so belligerently took to the air without a worry or even a care.

Sally the Sheep sat sewing her quilt from all of the wool that her soft fur had built.
She noticed the hat carelessly floating, atop the wind gusts brazenly gloating.

Tomas the Turtle and ten of his friends were sure they could bring this chase to an end.
They toppled and tumbled and turned all about but the hat kept on going, it had won out.

Ulma the Unicorn used her great horn to stab that old hat for her head to adorn.
Now, although she poked at it quite a few tries the hat flew away right before her sad eyes!

Victor the Vulture was vehemently vying the hat for himself, it was his for the spying.
He wanted to take it back home to his mate, but the hat flew right by him, he was too late.

Walt Water Buffalo wanted to see what all of the ruckus could possibly be.
When the hat flew in front of him snubbing his nose then it danced on the air as higher it rose.

It flew off again to heaven knows where with all of the animals chasing it there.
The Xiphias Gladius, or the swordfish, was playing his xylophone at the king’s wish.

When along came the infamous hat with a flare calling out to the swordfish “Catch me if you dare! ”
Yosha the Yak was yelling aloud for the hat to wait and be caught by the crowd.

But the hat seemed to have a mind all its own, it blew right by Yosha as the Yak sadly moaned.
Zeb the Zebra zigzagged along chasing the hat that the finch had thrown,

When what do you think did happen at that? The hat found its way to the head of the cat!
It perched on her ringlets as proud as could be; and the cat quit her crying as she said thanks to we.