School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 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

ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 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.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

When he finally goes to the unwelcoming janitor's room to search the lost-and-found for his hat, Justin discovers surprising things as he digs through the deep box, from items misplaced by his friends to treasures long forgotten. With playfully changing perspectives, Gustavson's oils add humor and dimension to this story that turns out to be much more than a quest to find a hat.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

Storyteller Harley embodies a child's fears with humor and sympathy. Justin has lost his favorite hat, the one his grandmother made for him. His mother pesters him to find it before grandmother visits on the weekend. After an exhaustive search, the last place to look is the dreaded Lost and Found. Justin's friend Devaun already lost his baseball jacket and was too afraid to go see Mr. Rumkowsky, the ancient custodian and keeper of the massive pile of lost belongings. With stifling tension, Harley has found the perfect emotional pitch to explore such universal childhood fears as visiting mysterious corners of the school or facing a terrifying adult. This story captures the essence of a brave child who confronts Authority. Not surprisingly, Mr. Rumkowsky is much kinder than he looks, but his gigantic box harbors much that is unsuspected. Harley's view of the elementary-school world succeeds in making Justin's fanciful experience palpably real. Gustavson enhances the dramatic mood with realistic double-page spreads that artfully use a child's-eye perspective. The word "CAUTION" blazes from a cleaning bucket. There are endless locks on the janitor's door. Leaves scatter everywhere, just like a young boy's belongings. Within this child's view of the world, full of questions and pressure and misunderstanding, wisdom comes--sometimes from the unlikeliest places. (Picture book. 5-9)