Embrace your silly side today, October 6, for Mad Hatter Day. The Mad Hatter is a character in Lewis Carrol’s “Alice in Wonderland” known for his fantastical tea parties and his large, top hat.
Sir John Tenniel was the original illustrator of Lewis Carrol’s stories about Alice, but Disney’s Mad Hatter with his green hat and white hair is probably who most people are familiar with.
Lewis Carroll's most recognized work was inspired by his interactions with children, particularly Alice Liddell. Carroll had a stutter and felt that he could communicate better with children. Carroll would spin fanciful tales to entertain Alice and her sister, and they would later become “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, published in 1865.
The sequel, “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There”, came out in 1871. When Carroll passed away in 1932, both books were among the most popular children’s books in England and around the world.
You can celebrate Mad Hatter Day by trying your hand at a few riddles. If you haven't read any of Alice's Adventures, take a trip down the rabbit hole and check out a copy from the Yonkers Public Library!
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she is currently pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.