I am not your hat!

Bert has a big secret. Luckily, he has his friend Dot by his side--or rather, sitting on his head--to help him keep it. Dot is a small, round, speckled bird with a striking plume of wispy fuchsia tail feathers. Bert is a big, lanky gray bird with a comfy head for Dot to perch upon. Most of the other birds think the pair odd, until a flock of Bert look-alikes compliment Bert on his fabulous headgear. "I am not your hat!" Dot protests, indignantly. Bert ignores her, strutting with pride, until she explodes with anger and flies away. Bert's secret's out: The whole time, Dot's been hiding Bert's tuft of flouncy, twisty orange hair. But instead of ridiculing him, Bert's new bird friends think he looks glorious! Bert's eager to share his joy with a friend, but he realizes Dot is gone, so he sets out to apologize. Dot considers Bert's heartfelt apology for a moment before accepting, and Bert reiterates that while it was lovely to embrace his authentic self, he also missed having his good friend with him. Watercolor-inspired digital illustrations lend energetic movement to all the birds, showcasing charming facial expressions and personality traits unique to each. Backdrops rendered in muted colors or the white of the page allow the fancier birds to pop, especially hot-pink Dot. A charming lesson on the power of accountability, apology, and friendship.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.