Crazy Hair
What’s inside...
Crazy Hair is a whimsical story by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean. It follows the adventures of Bonnie, who befriends someone with hair so wild it contains a jungle. As Bonnie explores this bizarre and fantastical hair, she realizes that taming it might be more challenging than she thought.
Age
2-4
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Man With Crazy Hair
Bonnie
Discussion points
What was your favorite part of the crazy hair adventure, and why did you like it?
How do you think the girl felt when she first saw the crazy hair? How would you feel?
If you could add something wild to the hair, what would it be and why?
What do you think the story tells us about being different or unique?
How did the illustrations make you feel? What colors or pictures stood out to you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive and animated tones when discussing the character’s feelings and the surreal elements of the hair to make the story come alive.
Encourage your child to describe in their own words what’s happening in the pictures to enhance their interpretation skills.
Link parts of the story to your child’s experiences, like a time they tried something new or felt different, to make the book more relatable.
After reading, engage in a fun activity where you both think of the wildest hair designs and draw them together.
Ask your child to guess what could happen next before turning the page, fostering their predictive and analytical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing individuality
Explanation: In 'Crazy Hair', the whimsical and wild illustrations of hair depict the beauty in accepting one's unique traits.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by feeling confident about their own unique qualities, encouraging them to appreciate diversity in others.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The elaborate and fantastical descriptions of the hair’s contents foster imaginative thinking.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to use their imagination more frequently, enhancing creative thinking skills in other areas of learning and play.
Example Lesson: Collaboration
Explanation: The interaction between the characters as they explore the vast universe of the hair showcases the importance of working together.
Real-World Application: Children learn to cooperate with others to achieve common goals, applicable in group activities at school or in play.
Example Lesson: Joy in discovery
Explanation: The book’s narrative encourages exploring the unknown, turning a simple element like hair into a world of adventure.
Real-World Application: This could lead children to approach new experiences and learning opportunities with enthusiasm and curiosity.