BLUE BISON NEEDS A HAIRCUT

A bad hair day prompts hours of angst.

Blue Bison prefers “to look nice and neat for his family and playground associates,” and the difference between a scruffy, long-haired Blue Bison and a Blue Bison with a spiffy new haircut is striking. Blue Bison needs a haircut (though his mother corrects him: “You WANT to get a haircut. You don’t NEED to”). But for some reason, the entire town, including the barber shop, is closed—for days. Blue Bison glowers, snorts puffs of anger, and then rams his head into a nearby rock, as any true bison would. Little sister Bubble Gum Bison grabs her scissors and offers to help, but Blue Bison first visits the barber’s home. When the barber refuses to do a quick cut, Blue Buffalo dramatically “wallow[s].” Family and friends try to cheer him up; Bubble Gum Bison’s suggestion makes Blue Bison laugh and turns the day around. The next day, Blue Bison wakes without a care for his hair, but when he looks in the mirror, he discovers someone has given him a haircut that he doesn’t just like—but absolutely loves. Digital illustrations add layers of texture and humor through emotionally expressive Blue Bison’s close-ups and creative details to pore over like a billboard for “extra soft” undies and a row of rocks for head-butting that are labeled for each Bison family member. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This one puts the "ha" in “haircut”—be prepared to snuggle up and laugh often.