Got the itch? Could be head lice?..... oh my.....
Fun pics to make you smile on your Saturday morning.
Today's featured book:
Title: Bugs in my Hair
Author/Illustrator: David Shannon
Ages: 4-7
How fun are these?
What's it all about?
This fun, quirky and educational book shines a light on a subject that often hides in the shadows and is wrapped in humiliation and shame. What topic is that you ask? Head Lice.
Yep, as a former teacher I have spotted those creepy, crawly, little critters, had my sighting confirmed by the school nurse, and then proceeded to send home that dreaded letter that causes fear and trepidation in parents. They discover that there is pediculosis (a louse infestation) alive and well in their child's classroom! Lice have been around for thousands of years and terms like "lousy", "nit-picking", and "going over things with a fine-tooth comb" are part of every day vocabulary.
David Shannon's book is hilarious and his illustrations are picture-perfect. They are big, bold, colourful, imaginative, and very witty. He takes you through the process of delousing and the reaction of both the humans and the bugs as finally those pesky and determined creatures are all exterminated. Whew! What a battle was waged to rid that head of those unwanted tenants.
Goodbye forever you nasty varmints making me itch and wiggle and scratch. But wait? What is that? Oh no........a repeat performance is in order because first time around was not enough to wipe those pesky critters out once and for all and send them packing to find a new host to live on.
I highly recommend this book and in sharing it with your child you can discuss that head lice are not taboo because millions of kids have them and adults too. By following some simple rules and with proper treatment they can be "cured." I like the back of the book where the huge warning label shouts: " Warning: This book will make you ITCHY!" And you know what? It does.
About the author:
In the world of David Shannon books, anything can happen. Ducks can ride bikes and kids can get rainbow stripes instead of chicken pox. But not all of Shannon's books are pure fiction. For his 1999 Caldecott Honor book, No, David!, Shannon reached back into his own mischievous childhood for material. In all of his work, Shannon likes to keep the colors bright, the illustrations bold, and the stories entertaining. "I try to have fun when I'm making a book," he says. "I feel like if I have fun, that's going to come across. And whoever reads it is going to have fun, too."
His Life
David Shannon made his first book when he was only five. On orange paper, he drew pictures of himself doing the things that got him into trouble: sneaking into the cookie jar, jumping on the bed, and making too much noise. The only two words in the book were "No" and "David" — two words that he heard often and knew how to spell.
As a young boy, David also liked to draw pirates, baseball players, battle scenes, and characters from books. He pursued his artistic interests at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. After graduating with a degree in fine arts, Shannon moved to New York City, where he worked for ten years as an editorial illustrator for adults. His work appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Time.
When David Shannon first agreed to illustrate a children's book, he thought it would be a fun, one-time diversion. But after How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? was published in 1992, editors sent him more and more manuscripts to illustrate. Eventually, Shannon began to write and illustrate his own stories, including the popular titles No, David!, Duck on a Bike, and A Bad Case of Stripes.
David Shannon lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and their young daughter, Emma, who enjoys reading her dad's books, inspiring new ones, and making books of her own.
Book Review Rating: 9 (Close to perfection!)
Read on and read always! Have a lice...oops...nice day!
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