Review by Booklist Review
A child's voluminous hair has many uses in this debut picture book. Millie loves her long, orange mane of tall-tale proportions. Her best friend Chloe concurs: "It's full of adventure!" Teasingly exaggerated details fill Pay's digital cartoon illustrations. Socks, lollipops, dolls and other toys are stuck in the brightly colored shocks of over-the-top hair. Out on the street, the child's free-flowing hairdo flips in the face of a passerby, and at ballet class her locks knock students at the barre off balance. Repeatedly told her tresses are tiresome and she needs to get a haircut, Millie steadfastly balks at the notion. When Chloe is hospitalized and loses her own hair during treatment, Millie immediately knows how she can help her friend as well as other children in the ward. Originally published in Dutch, this English translation has sprightly first-person narration: "I was able to share my helpful hair!" Underneath the far-fetched fun, there's a warm friendship message about selfless acts of kindness.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-K--Millie loves her long, lustrous, orange hair. And even though other people complain that Millie has too much hair or that her hair is in the way, Millie begs to differ, asserting that her hair is integral to her identity. Only her best friend Chloe seems to appreciate Millie's hair as much as she does. When Chloe undergoes medical treatment and loses her own hair, Millie changes her mind and discovers a way for her hair to give others the joy it brings her. Few picture books recognize the impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis, and this one manages to connect a heartbreaking reality with a hopeful endeavor. Chunky, collage-style illustrations are the primary feature of this picture book, incorporating a limited palette that highlights the bright orange color of Millie's hair. Millie, who is white, narrates, allowing readers to place themselves in her shoes. Though the text itself is spare, the brief phrases and familiar language it employs keep the story accessible when read aloud to a young child. Best suited to one-on-one or home sharing due to the intricacy of the illustrations and the weight of the subject matter, this book is a heartfelt examination of how one child can help others during a time of greatest need. VERDICT Rare in the canon of picture books for younger children, this book shines light on childhood cancer in a positive and uplifting way; it could be passed around in classrooms for SEL awareness.--Mary Lanni
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