differences are what make you special ( )

So cute! ( )

A very special tale, about a very special girl who has very special talents, different than anyone else. Her magical, talented hair makes her very unique with lots to give; just not necessarily in the same way as everyone else. My kids liked this because it was fun. I loved it because seeing a "rule following" adult become accepting of a singular child's gifts instead of seeing the child as a rule breaker was wonderful. ( )

I liked this book for two reasons. First, the illustrations help to enhance the story. As the story describes a girl with extremely long hair, the illustrations help to show just how unusually long Zoe's hair is. The illustrations provide a visual for an unusual situation that some readers may have difficulty envisioning when reading the text alone. For example, the author writes, "At three, her hair could turn on the TV, pour a glass of juice, pet the cat, and play on the computer-all at the same time" (p. 4). Because hair is typically inanimate, some audiences may struggle with imagining hair being able to do these things. The bright colored illustrations help the readers understand what the text is trying to describe and helps the audience stay engaged and understand the story. I also like the language in this book. There is figurative language which helps provide a detailed description of the events in the book. For example, the author writes, "It felt like all the rules in the world were sitting on top of her head" (p. 19). This descriptive language provides the audience with a way of thinking about how difficult Zoe's situation is without explicitly saying it. The language makes the story more interesting and forces the audience to think more deeply about the meaning behind the figurative language. The big idea of this story is to understand that everyone struggles and it is important to persevere through difficult times. ( )

This book would be great for all the kids who don't quite fit in, but have great things to offer if they are accepted for who they are. An inspiration that we can all find our way to be celebrated for who we are, even in the rigid confines of First Grade. ( )