ELLA KAZOO WILL NOT BRUSH HER HAIR

Ella Kazoo will do anything to avoid brushing her hair. She hides, she roars, she howls and moans. Her exasperated mother has given up. Her friends are repelled by the messy locks. Even her little dog gets caught in the tangle. It isn’t until her hair grows out of control, collecting household items and trash as it cascades down the stairs, that Ella realizes her hair must be stopped. Calling on a band of astonished hairdressers Ella makes her demands: “Give me hair I won’t have to untangle, / hair that won’t wander and hair that won’t strangle.” Fox’s meter never falters as she rings the changes on all possible synonyms for “hair.” Plecas’s colorful and detailed watercolor illustrations deftly capture the feelings of all the characters, from Ella’s rebelliousness to her mother’s frustration and her friends’ revulsion. All along the way, Ella’s pooch stands by her, providing a constant in her journey from messy tresses to tame mane. Many families will relate to a stubborn child who refuses to brush her hair; Ella Kazoo offers a humorous take with a fine solution. (Picture book. 3-7)