The Floating Hat: A Story of Strength and Unity

The story, The Floating Hat by Lilani Dias and which is illustrated by Erushmie Karunaratne is a children's story not only intended to entertain but also pass morals to children. It was published by Queen of Sea Publishers and first printed in 2021. The story is told in few words accompanied by beautiful drawings to arrest young readers’ attention and maintain their concentration. The wordings are colored and are in large and conspicuous fonts to ease reading by the children. The pictures in the book are brightly coloured and deeply meaningful, and touchingly reminiscent of the way in which children see the world with such wonder and amazement. The story is told from the readers’ point of view judging by the setting and choice of characters employed by the writer which are familiar and identifiable by children. The writer focusses on themes like creativity, critical thinking, oneness, helping the needy and to an extent gender equality as will be discussed.

Lilani Dias creates a beautiful aquatic environment which encompasses a fast-flowing river, the fishes, frogs and even water duck. Along the riverbanks stand plants, tall trees and flowers which provide a beautiful scenery. The presence of butterflies as well as fishes jumping in to and out of water as well as children coming to play signifies a lively environment full of life. The beautifully colored images breathe life into the story as it unfolds.

The writer selects activities which enhances creativity among children such as creating paper boats. While playing children can improvise and design boats made of paper which they then float. Lilani Dias deviates from the norm of providing kids with play kits probably bought from the market as this could inhibit creativity and breed laziness. The idea of children meeting and playing together is emphasized. Also, children being conscious of their surrounding and noting any change and responding appropriately for example those in the story noting something new floating is advocated by the writer.

Using the floating hat and the old man the writer is able to communicate the need for children to be humble and most importantly help the needy in the society particularly the elderly. The old man has had his hat blown by wind and carried into the river and given his age he cannot swim to retrieve it. The five children prove to be useful since they purpose to help the old man by spotting the hat and helping with the careful retrieval.

Through the book, ‘The Floating Hat’, Lilani Dias emphasizes the application of critical thinking in solving problems. Here, the battle is not for the brawns but rather brains. If the children should enter the river, then it is probable they will drown. The children try to retrieve the hat while standing on the banks and at a safe distance. This goes along with exploitation of various strategies when confronted with a problem rather than sticking to one.

The aspect of togetherness is a theme that predominantly features in the book. As the say goes, “together we stand, divided we fall” so is it a manifest when trying to retrieve the hat. One girl identifies a pole but when she tries to lift it, it overweighs her. The other members of the group including the old man join and they effortlessly lift the pole. This is a clear indication that we cannot address our problems alone but should always seek help from those around us just like the girl who located the pole did. The hat is lifted and brought to the riverbank thanks to the unity of strength. Our problems could find quicker solutions than they would if we kept them to ourselves for instance the old man’s.

The story intentionally involves girls and boys playing together. It does not discriminate that the two genders should play separately neither does it propose different or unique plays and tasks for either gender. Here, they are both playing along the riverbank and are both making paper boats. In other words, the writer is an advocate of equality whose desire is to see all children involved.

Putting smile back on the faces of those facing problems should be the desire of everyone and more so children helping the elderly. It should satisfy them that they were able to help but while offering solutions one should be cautious not to get into another problem while solving the other. One should not be so involved that they also sink into the very problem they intended to address for example jumping into a river to retrieve the hat could lead to children drowning.