The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson, Illustrated by Ard Hoyt
I pretty much love everything that Laurie Halse Anderson touches, and so it’s no surprise that her picture book, The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School and illustrated by Ard Hoyt is a hit with me as well.
Zoe Fleefenbacher has one blue eye and one green eye, and bright red hair that went on forever. Zoe’s hair is incredibly useful. She could count on her hair to do all sorts of things for her like opening the cookie jar, petting the cat, playing on the computer, pouring a glass of juice. In Kindergarten Zoe’s hair was the hit of the class but when Zoe goes to first grade that all changes with Mrs. Trisk who declares that school has rules and wild hair is not allowed.
Zoe’s unruly hair simply can not be tamed and when she’s forced to take it under control, everybody learns that it’s easier said than done. And what happens when Mrs. Trisk realizes that she may need Zoe’s incredible hair more than she thought?
A very fun story that will have all kids wishing for Zoe’s amazing hair. Fun illustrations in which Zoe’s hair is up to all kinds of trouble. I loved that Zoe loved her hair. I don’t think the story would be the same if Zoe hated her hair or hated the way she looked. Zoe accepts herself 100% but it’s her teacher who just doesn’t get it. A story of not only hair which has found its place, but a story of a little first grader who has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.
Links of interest: Laurie Halse Anderson website, blog, and Twitter. More book blogger reviews, Maw Books reviews of Speak, Chains, Wintergirls, my open letter to Anderson, and my video of Anderson talking about Wintergirls.
Genre: Picture Book, Fiction approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster. June 23, 2009
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 0689858094
Copy source: Review copy sent from publisher for Cybils 2009 consideration for which I was a panelist.
The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Tags: Cybils 2009 picture book nomination, female author, Fiction, published 2009, Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, review copy
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I love the color and the title. This one sounds wonderful. I had no idea that Laurie Halse Anderson had written this one. I am only familiar with her through her works such as Speak.
on September 24th, 2010 at 11:29 amI love Zoe Fleefenbacher! It has such a great message. I think her hair is beautiful!
on September 24th, 2010 at 12:35 pmI love this book also and found the message to be interesting as a teacher. Great for students to see that teachers can make mistakes and still survive.
on September 24th, 2010 at 1:14 pmThis is a book I’m going to have to add to my Christmas list. It sounds wonderful!
on September 24th, 2010 at 2:17 pm