Big hair, big confidence and big ideas

I saw a blurb about the author of Big Bouffant (Carolrhoda Picture Books), Kate Hosford, holding a book launch party and it was so cute to see young readers sporting big bouffants of their own. I knew I had to get my hands on this book and I was not disappointed.

On the first day of school, Annabelle sighs, looks around the room shakes her head and cries...

"Ponytails and braids!
Ponytails and braids!
I don't see anything but
ponytails and braids!"

From there, she declares that her class needs some fashion and some fun, so she'll find a hairdo to impress everyone. And as she stares at a photo of her grandmother's marvelous tower of hair, she knows just what hairstyle--a big bouffant. Annabelle, who doesn't want to look like all other girls, waltzes through the playground with a great big smile and great big hair and ends up starting a new trend. But when the others in her class show up with big hair, Annabelle realizes that her bouffant's boring and it's up to her to be the queen of fashion with her next big surprise.

Everything that I love about picture books is wrapped up in this one--beautiful rhyme, a fun story, and amazing art. Let's face it--we all worry about our hair, our looks and our individuality and Hosford delivers a story that reminds us to think for ourselves and be confident no matter what anybody says.

Additional Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
School & Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (April 2011)
ISBN-10: 0761354093
ISBN-13: 978-0761354093
Source of review copy: Publicist

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