Bad Hair Day by John Phillips is an uproarious and captivating picture book. The delightful illustrations by Jennifer Jamieson breathe life into the story, sparking the imagination. This book draws its inspiration from a TikTok song, written by Philips, a whopping two decades ago!
The story revolves around a young boy grappling with a comically disastrous hair day where no remedy seems to work. His attempts to rectify the situation inadvertently turn his hair green. To make matters worse, he discovers it is picture day at school!
Told through a mix of rhyming and non-rhyming verses, the narrative offers a whimsical and entertaining read. The illustrations are nothing short of fabulous, seamlessly integrating inclusivity into the book, which I found especially endearing.
While the TikTok-inspired song repeats throughout the story, it doesn’t significantly advance the plot. Nevertheless, its catchy nature added to the book’s charm, even for someone like me who wasn’t initially aware of its TikTok popularity.
The resolution left a lot to be desired, and I found the song’s grammar quirks a tad irksome. However, I’m sure it won’t bother young readers. They will definitely enjoy the entertainment it provides.
A friendly heads-up: This book doesn’t impart moral lessons. Instead, it offers pure, carefree fun.
Bad Hair Day has the magical ability to turn the gloomiest of days into a joyful adventure!
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
Wordsopedia Rating 4/5
| Title: Bad Hair Day | Author: John Phillips |
| Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group | Publication date: 24 Oct 2023 |
| Genre: Fiction—Children’s | Format: eBook |
| ISBN: 9780711290167 | No. of Pages: 32 |
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About the author
John Phillips is a New Zealand primary school teacher and music education specialist with a career spanning over 34 years. He conducts choirs, teaches instruments and directs musicals as part of providing an exciting school wide performing arts programme. But running alongside his role as an educator John’s real passion lies in crafting children’s songs that bring smiles and life lessons, to young hearts. His mission is all about making learning fun and encouraging kids to explore and participate fully in the arts.