Crazy Hair Day - Softcover

Saltzberg, Barney

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0763624640 ISBN 13: 9780763624644

Publisher: Candlewick, 2008

Synopsis

"A crackerjack read-aloud with a great finish. . . . This delightful tale of confusion and compassion is just the ticket to defuse potential teasing." — School Library Journal

Stanley Birdbaum couldn’t be more excited. He has rolled and wrapped and dyed his hair. He has dipped it and sprayed it and made it, well, perfect. He is ready to celebrate Crazy Hair Day at school. But when Stanley saunters up to the classroom, he learns, to his horror, that Crazy Hair Day is . . . next week. To make matters worse, today is School Picture Day, and everyone is expected to line up for the class photo! What’s Stanley to do?

About this title

Review:

Stanley Birdbaum's elementary school celebrates all sorts of madcap, made-up holidays from Pajama Day to Crazy Hair Day. Stanley is particularly excited about the latter, and one Friday, he and his mom have a wonderful time crafting his kooky coiffure. Using not one but two cans of Halloween hair spray (blue and orange) and plenty of rubber bands, the daring duo creates a masterpiece: "'This,' he said, 'is going to be a day I will never forget.'" That turns out to be true, but not for the reasons Stanley suspects. When he walks into class, all spiky and striped and ready to go, he hears his teacher reminding everyone that Crazy Hair Day is next Friday. Today, in fact, is School Picture Day. Stanley, now sick, runs to the bathroom and doesn't come out, even when his best friend Larry Finchfeather tries to persuade him.

Exiled, he eats his lunch, draws pictures, experiments with toilet flushing, and counts drops of water from a leaky faucet. He finally decides to risk more ridicule and get his picture taken with the class. Fortunately, it does prove to be a day Stanley will never forget, because his classmates surprise him by wearing silly, makeshift hats for the school picture that make him and his crazy hair feel right at home. Saltzberg's sweetly comical illustrations suit this engaging, eventually uplifting tale that shows how kids can be unforgettably cruel and unforgettably kind...all in the same day! (Ages 5 and older) --Karin Snelson

About the Author:

BARNEY SALTZBERG is the author-illustrator of many books for children and has also recorded two albums of music for children. When not writing and illustrating, he performs in schools, libraries, bookstores, and hospitals.

About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0763624640
• ISBN 13: 9780763624644
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Saltzberg Barney