Amanda's Perfect Hair

From Publishers Weekly Thanks to her uncontrollable mass of golden curls, Amanda isn't having just a bad hair day--she is having a bad hair life. Amanda's amazing mane precedes her into any room, gets slammed in the car door, stuck in zippers and is so springy that it blows her cap sky high. The next-door neighbor compares Amanda's tresses to Niagara Falls, and Amanda's little brother claims that when her hair is braided "it looks like a python slithering down a tree." With so much attention focused on her unruly locks, Amanda can't help worrying if her hair is "the best thing about her. Maybe it is what makes her special." Finally, Amanda takes matters (and a pair of scissors) into her own hands, stalks into the bathroom, and gives herself a haircut. Quirky, cartoon-like drawings provide readers with a chance to admire one of the "wonderful new hairdos" Amanda's friends invent for her. Milstein's message may not be terribly new, but her perky, imaginative storytelling gives it a saucy flip. Ages 4-up. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 2-A delightful tale of empowerment with wonderful illustrations-a sure hit for a story time. Amanda's long, thick, curly hair is a crowning glory of beautiful abundance that pleases everyone but Amanda. She wants people to notice her for herself, not for her hair, plus it's a nuisance. After a brief consideration of the identity crisis that might result from bold action, the child throws caution to the wind and snips her way to a new hairdo. Family and friends recover from the initial shock and are as pleased with the results as Amanda is. One wonders how many others' tresses will fall victim to handy shears as a result of this right-of-passage saga-probably no more than have every year since scissor first met hair. Meddaugh's watercolor cartoons are so full of color, character, and wit that even nonreaders can enjoy the book. Add to your library, read with gusto, but hide the scissors.