The Hairdo That Got Away
on Goodreads (45)
What’s inside...
Once a month, Dad takes his son to the barbers, come rain or shine. But when Dad disappears, this little boy's hair grows big, ginormous, out of control – and so do his feelings. A touching and melodic story of family separation from a child's perspective from the author/illustrator duo who brought us the Amnesty International recommended picture book Luna Loves Library Day.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think the character felt when his hair began to grow wildly?
Why do you think the hairdo 'got away', and what does that mean to you?
How can we express our feelings just like the character did with his hair?
What did the change in the character's hairdo tell you about his emotions and experiences?
Can you think of a time when you tried something new like the character did with his hair?
Tip: Role play these questions
Ask your child to describe their feelings about the book using emotive words, enhancing emotional identification.
Encourage your child to draw a picture of their 'wildest' hairdo, fostering a creative connection to the story.
Discuss personal experiences related to change and growth, linking real-life scenarios to the character’s journey.
Read the story together and use expressive voices for different characters to make the reading experience more interactive and lively.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of emotional expression
Explanation: This story explores the father-son relationship and how a hairdo becomes a symbol of their shared emotional journey, particularly highlighting the father’s depression and its impact.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of expressing their feelings and understanding others' emotions, which is crucial for emotional development and empathy.
Example Lesson: The value of resilience
Explanation: Throughout the book, the child demonstrates resilience in dealing with change, particularly affected by his father’s emotional state and the eventual loss of his special hairdo.
Real-World Application: This teaches children that while they may face challenging situations, their inner strength can help them recover and adapt.
Example Lesson: Acceptance of change
Explanation: The story conveys accepting changes that come with life, as seen through the evolving appearance and emotional state of the characters.
Real-World Application: Children learn to embrace life’s uncertainties and changes, helping them adapt to new situations such as moving to a new place or changes in family dynamics.
Example Lesson: Healing power of creativity
Explanation: The hairdo in the story is symbolic of creativity and its role in expressing individuality and coping with emotional turmoil.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use creative outlets like drawing, writing, or music as a way to deal with their emotions and challenges.
Example Lesson: Nurturing relationships
Explanation: The narrative focuses on the nurturing aspect of the father-son relationship, highlighting how they cope with personal challenges together.
Real-World Application: It underlines the importance of supportive relationships in fostering emotional growth and overcoming life’s hurdles, teaching children to value and cultivate such relationships.