Children - Fiction & Literature

Even Monsters Need Haircuts

Name: Even Monsters Need Haircuts
Author: Matthew McElligott
ISBN: 9780802728012

by Matthew McElligott (Illustrator)

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Overview

Just before midnight, on the night of a full moon, a young barber stays out past his bedtime to go to work. Although his customers are mostly regulars, they are anything but normal-after all, even monsters need haircuts. Business is steady all night, and this barber is prepared for anything with his scissors, rotting tonic, horn polish, and stink wax. It's a tough job, but someone's got to help these creatures maintain their ghoulish good looks.

Perfect for Halloween, this is a hilarious story about a boy who follows in his father's footsteps . . . in his own monstrously unique way.

Synopsis

Perfect for Halloween, this is a hilarious story about a boy who follows in his father's footsteps . . . in his own monstrously unique way.

About the Author, Matthew McElligott

MATTHEW McELLIGOTT is the author of several books for children, including The Lion's Share, Absolutely Not, and Backbeard and the Birthday Suit. He teaches at Sage College and also visits elementary schools around the country. He lives in New York.

www.mattmcelligott.com

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

In McElligott's delightfully deadpan story, a boy sneaks out to his father's barbershop for a full-moon session of monster haircutting. Grainy washes with simple, black outlines reflect the gentle art of barbering as the boy stands on a stool (blindfolded) to braid Medusa's snakes, as other monsters patiently await their turns. "Some customers are easy," the boy says, as he cuts a single, springy hair from a one-eyed troll. "Some are more difficult," he goes on, tackling a hairy fiend with pruning shears. With the distinctive combination of the freakish and the humdrum, it's a good candidate for the stack of battered bedtime favorites. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

Children's Literature - Kirsten Shaw

When a father closes up his barbershop for the night, his little boy secretly re-opens it and takes over the hair cutting duties. But he's not cutting hair for humans—his customers are monsters. When a human customer suddenly shows up the monsters take to their hiding places. Kids will love the clever illustrations, including a werewolf getting a trim with gardening shears and Medusa having her snakes braided, and trying to find the monsters in their "hiding places." This a perfect compliment to those yearly Halloween readings and when kids are just in the mood for a good silly story. Reviewer: Kirsten Shaw

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—The young narrator learns a lot from watching his barber dad in action—how to give a good haircut or trim, treat his clientele with respect, and give them what they want—even if the "regulars" are monsters. Literally. Once a month, Frankenstein, Cyclops, Vlad, Medusa, and others fill the barbershop chairs after midnight strikes, and the boy (who never breaks the rules and NEVER leaves the house alone) stands atop a ladder or chair, and—clad in monster slippers, pj's, and "shamp-ewww"-filled pockets—competently gives each customer a new do. With a jewel-toned palette in ink, pencil, and digital art, the shadows of night brighten in the barbershop to bring out the personalities of a lighthearted collection of monster-inspired characters. The art invites both inspection of humorous details for individual readers and an opportunity for exploration of voice and mood in a read-aloud. Fears of the unknown are faced as a human arrives at the shop during the wee hours, yet the boy ("More nervous than I have ever been") never backs down and takes care of business. Narrated in the voice of a child, this offering is perfect for young readers facing a bit of personal anxiety.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX