BOOKS

Beard Boy

by John FLANNERY
illus. by Steven Weinberg. 32p. Putnam. May 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399173363.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1—In this comical homage to facial hair, Flannery uses alliterative and playfully sophisticated language to show a young boy's fascination with faces, particularly bearded ones. The "bewhiskered" baker, barbers, and butcher and other bearded people Ben encounters along the streets in his urban neighborhood are stopped and questioned: "Is it itchy?" "Does food get stuck in it?" Although just a boy, Ben desperately wants a beard because his dad has one. In this funny tale that ends with beard shopping in Ben's friend Bobby's two dads' costume shop, the bond between father and son is shown to be spirited and loving. Weinberg's lively and amusing cartoon-style watercolor and pencil illustrations enhance the good-humored feel of this title.
VERDICT A befitting tale for Father's Day and a welcome addition to any collection needing amusing and engaging stories about father-child relationships. Ideal for storytime or for one-on-one sharing.
Reviewed by Brianne Colombo, Pequannock Township Public Library, NJ
The coolest people in Ben's neighborhood have beards, and Ben especially wants to be like his bearded dad. Unable to grow a beard himself, Ben tries a variety of creative solutions, all with humorous results, before a permanent-marker beard necessitates parental action. Digitally colored pencil-and-watercolor illustrations highlight the sweet silliness but can be difficult to parse on the busier pages.
 , Jul 01, 2016

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Some of Us Are Brave
by Faruqi, Saadia
BOOKS

Tested
by Monders, Anna
BOOKS

Hail Mariam
by Al-Marashi, Huda
BOOKS

Feo the Chupacabra: An Original Graphic Novel
by Blankenship, Sequoia
BOOKS

Amari and the Metalwork Menace
by Alston, B. B.
BOOKS

Brady Mason’s Perfect Fit
by Melleby, Nicole
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?