Jörg Mühle & Melody Shaw (translation), When Dad’s Hair Took Off, Gecko Press, June 2023, 70 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781776575213
The premiss behind this zany story is that one day Dad’s hair, tired of being stuck to his head, decides it wanted a life of its own, and to see the world. One day, it coiled itself and sprang. And off follows Dad trying to catch it, by following the trail it leaves. Around the house. Out into the garden. Over the hills and far away and into town. In the restaurant. In the department store. To the zoo. Eventually down into the drains, the river and ocean – an imbedded ‘lesson’ on the water cycle. Dad remains bald on his head, but his other hair continues to grow. Dad gives up chasing, but receives postcards, selfies, and greetings from abroad. Finally, a storm, and Dad’s hair returns.
It’s totally improbable as a story but is great fun and I found myself laughing aloud at times – not usual for me as a reader. Young readers will also enjoy the impossibility of all that happens. I enjoyed Melody Shaw’s translation because she has created such naturally sounding sentences. There are many puns, wordplays, and commonplace (but not mundane) expressions. Mühle’s illustrations reflect the crazy nature of the story. As the reader turns each page, the cartoon-like pictures contain so much more than just the words.
Early readers are sure to love the madcap nature of this story.
Reviewed by Maureen Mann