What's Silly Hair Day with No Hair?

January 15, 2021
A bald girl faces a school festival that requires hair. Bea was born with a full head of hair, but before she turned 4, it had all fallen out. Nobody knows whether her hair will grow back, and it's not part of another medical condition, so Bea just needs to cope. Sometimes she's teased or envies best friend Shaleah's hair clips; sometimes she's fine. But Silly Spirit Week is coming up at school, culminating on Friday with Silly Hair Day. Loyal Shaleah is present every step of the way, comforting Bea and trying to help solve the looming Silly Hair Day problem. Hats won't do the trick; Bea usually wears them. The girls try and reject both wigs and home-crafted yarn hair that resembles "a nest of gummy worms." There's only a vague sense of help from adults. Bea's mom provides transportation to the wig store--but only after Shaleah suggests it--and then she seems to disappear. Ms. Chambers--the principal, perhaps?--approves a definitional change to Silly Hair Day upon Bea's request; a bit oddly, even though Bea seems to be an older-elementary-age student and therefore someone Ms. Chambers has known for a while, the woman seems never to have noticed the celebration's exclusionary element herself. Carrossine's matte texture, soft colors, and gentle edges cushion Bea's (and readers') anxiety about this social plight. Bea, her parents, and Ms. Chambers are White; Shaleah is Black. The lack of proactive adult support is dispiriting, but child self-empowerment helps to counter that. (author's notes) (Picture book. 3-7)

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March 12, 2021

K-Gr 3-Bea likes to wear hats, and is accustomed to her alopecia and baldness. But when she hears that her school's spirit week will culminate Friday with Silly Hair Day, she begins to feel self-conscious and left out. Her best friend, Shaleah, tries to cheer her up, offering helpful suggestions like a wig or silly hair crafted from yarn and pom poms. She even offers to skip the Spirit Week picnic if Bea doesn't participate. Nothing is quite right for Bea, until on the eve of the dreaded day, a teacher unexpectedly inspires an alternative way to celebrate. Bea's resolution is empowering, and provides a reminder for school administrators to offer inclusive alternatives for school activities. Paulson effectively conveys Bea's tricky feelings, in the face of warm support from friends and family, and occasional feelings of exclusion. Despite the supportive structure suggested, secondary characters aren't given much shine, especially her deeply caring and loyal best friend. An author's note about alopecia and hair loss caused by chemotherapy misses the opportunity to provide talking points for parents and educators. VERDICT Light on narrative strength but a welcome title to include in conversations of inclusion.-Jessica Agudelo, New York P.L.

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