Bristly Hair and I Don't Care!

Gr 1–3—This book introduces a series of quirky animal and human characters who feel unhappy about their physical appearances. "Our neighbor Teddy Mounds/thinks he has/too many pounds. Mother's bigger brother Peter's problem is/that he's too tall. All those/extra/centimeters/could go to/my best friend Paul." These verses culminate in a full-page poem that opens: "Some think if their bellies were flatter/ nothing else would ever matter. Others feel they have it rough—/with butts too bouncy or not bouncy enough." Then we meet "dear Uncle Nooks," who doesn't care about his looks and ends the book with "Each of you is quite a sight…/but the way you are/is the way that's right." The text is a cursive font that can be difficult to read, but it is large and bright. The distinctive cartoon illustrations are the selling point here.