“Why is daddy’s head bald?” This is the question that sparks an adventurous tale about alopecia and one girl’s acceptance of her father and his head without hair in Debora Ceballos De Alamon’s Where the Hair Don’t Grow.
Summary
Anna is getting ready for storytime and a good night’s rest when she decides to ask her mom about her father’s bald head. The little one’s curiosity leads Anna’s mom to share a wild story that takes the little one and readers to another world.
Anna and readers go from stormy days to extremely hot weather all spent on top of dad’s balding head. At one point, Anna’s dad seems to have found the cure for his total alopecia in the form of a potion that promises hair growth. The “solution” fails in the end, which ultimately leads Anna and her father to appreciate his head as-is.
What We Liked
Teaching Acceptance
Where the Hair Don’t Grow is more than a cute story that teaches kids about alopecia. This tale is also about acceptance.
Anna already partially accepts the fact that her father does not have hair. Her reason for inquiring about his baldness is to better understand him. Anna’s father, however, does not initially accept his condition. Such is the reason why he tries the hair growth potion that ultimately fails.
Through Anna and her father, Debbie Alamon uses this fun story to invite us to be comfortable with our imperfections. Kids and adults can learn a lesson or two from Anna and her father.
So Many Lessons
In addition to the underlying message of acceptance, there is also a glossary in the back of the book that defines alopecia and other words kids may not understand. Such a tool allows parents to turn storytime into a genuine school session.
Who’s It For?
Where the Hair Don’t Grow by Debora Ceballos De Alamon (illustrated by Guilherme Salomon) is suggested for children between the ages of two and twelve years old. We think kids between the ages of three and six years old can get the most out of this book.
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