Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

What draws me to this book is not only the awareness it shines on childhood alopecia, but also the idea that it’s our responsibility to endeavor to be mindful of how our actions and activities impact others. Moreover, this picture book celebrates the qualities of true, solid friendships as well as confidence, self-awareness, resilience, speaking up on the path to seeking positive solutions. What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? is quite a package.

Levels and Layers of Learning

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Before, During, and After Reading Questions for What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair?

A curriculum guide for What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? provides literacy, math, fine motor, STEM, art, and written expression activities.

“Alopecia Areata: Why My Hair Falls Out” YouTube video.

Learn more about Alopecia Areata.

Find more information at the Children’s Alopecia Project.

To explore other causes of children’s hair loss, visit the American Hair Loss Association.

September is National Alopecia Awareness month. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation has prepared a free downloadable Community Awareness Packet.

Listen to the podcast episode of “Alopecia Life with DeeAnn Graham” where Norene discusses a variety of topics from heading back-to-school to raising alopecia awareness and the role What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? plays in both.

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

Bea struggles as she tries to come up with a solution to Silly Hair Day. Many ideas come up short, but she keeps working on the problem. Have you ever had a problem that was hard to solve? How did you approach the problem? What did you learn from Bea that you might try the next time you face a problem?

Bea and Shaleah are good friends. What makes their friendship special?

Imagine you are one of the characters in the story. How do you feel at the beginning of the story? How do you feel at the end? What changed the way you feel?

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, or summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes the spirit.

Pair What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? with poems about friendship, confidence, agency, and school. Suggestions include:

• Emotion Poems and “Best Friends” by Irene Latham; This Poem Is A Nest by Irene Latham, illustrated by Johanna Wright
• “If I Were in Charge of the World” by Judith Viorst; If I Were in Charge of the World and other worries by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Lynne Cherry
• “Principal”  by J. Patrick Lewis; School People poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Ellen Shi

And Then There’s This… Enrichment activities, related books, craft projects, and ideas for further study

At the back of What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? you can find useful tips for using temporary tattoos.

Related Books of Interest:

• Bedhead Ted by Scott SanGiacomo
• Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
• Hair Story by NoNieqa Ramos, illustrated by Keisha Morris
• I Am Courage: A Book of Resilience by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
• Jacob’s Eye Patch by Beth Kobliner Shaw and Jacob Shaw, illustrated by Jules Feiffer
• School Picture Day by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Thor Wickstrom
• Shreya’s Very Own Style by Suhani Parikh illustrated by Lovyaa Garg

Fuse 8 Production guest post “What’s Your Hair Story?” by NoNieqa Ramos, author of Hair Story.

Meet the Author

Backstory: Q & A with Norene Paulson

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? What kernel seeded its creation?

Norene Paulson: As a former middle school teacher, I was always bothered by planned school events that no matter how unintentional left some students on the sidelines. Spirit Week Dress-Up Days was one of those events. I had a colleague with alopecia who dressed up for every Spirit Week Day EXCEPT Silly Hair Day (and there was always a Silly Hair Day) which made me wonder what if it was a student with alopecia rather than a staff member. How would that student feel? That’s when I decided to center the story on a main character with alopecia.

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the creation of this book.

NP: Well, I almost didn’t write the story because I thought I had an original idea until I discovered some creative kids with alopecia had beaten me to it. At first, I was busy brainstorming, jotting down ideas, and getting a rough story arc plotted in my head like I do for any story idea. However, when I started researching, my excitement level fell through the floor when I read several articles about real kids with alopecia who decorated their heads for various reasons including Silly Hair Days, so I turned to my agent for advice. After careful consideration and consultation with other agents in the agency, her response was, “Write the story. It’s a story that needs to be shared.” So I did.  However, that experience was a good reminder that there are very few original ideas out there but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the idea, mold it, and make it uniquely yours.

JB: What did you learn from writing What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair?

NP: One thing I learned is Awareness Matters. The more kids understand alopecia the more accepting they are toward kids with alopecia. Kids need to know that kids with alopecia aren’t sick, that alopecia isn’t contagious, and, most importantly, that kids with alopecia are just like them.

JB: One of the themes in What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? is acceptance and self-reliance. Bea is supported by her family and friends, but it is her own resolve and determination that ultimately wins the day. Tell how you came to the story’s structure and resolution.

NP: Part of Bea’s resolve and determination stems from her relationship with Shaleah, her best friend. My editor and I thought it important for the story to have a strong emotional arc that allowed the reader to see that although Bea is generally upbeat and unaffected by her alopecia, she also has moments of frustration and disappointment. During those moments, having a best friend to lean on was an element of the story we wanted to highlight as well. For example, when Bea wants to give up and stay home, Shaleah doesn’t beg her or tell her not to, she simply stands with her and states she will stay home, too. Ultimately Shaleah’s loyalty helps Bea realize that she needs to move forward not just for herself but for Shaleah as well, so she doesn’t miss out on Spirit Week fun.

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair?

NP: This book is so much more than a story about alopecia. It’s a story about friendship and how important it is for every child to have at least one good friend. It’s about inclusion and making sure kids reach out to those who feel left out. In addition, I hope adults who plan kids’ events will be reminded to make sure every event they plan gives every child the opportunity to participate.

JB: How do you see What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair connecting to curriculum?

NP: I see the book connecting with curriculum on several different levels. It’s definitely a book that promotes SEL (social-emotional learning). It’s a great read-aloud to spark discussions on alopecia, on individual differences, on inclusion, on friendship, and on empowerment. Stand up and speak out is what Bea would say to kids reading her story.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the writing of What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair?

NP: Readers might be surprised to learn it took me literally decades (30+ years) to sell my debut picture book Benny’s True Colors, and that I have drawers and virtual folders filled with stories that will never be published but each was a rung on my ladder to publication. Takeaway from my experience: Never give up. There’s no expiration date or Best If Used By date stamped on your dreams.

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

NP: I wish you would have asked what’s next for Bea because I’m so excited and proud that What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? has been selected by Jeff Woytovich, the founder of Children’s Alopecia Project, to be included in his CAP Kids Library Program. This means that copies of What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair? will be included in the bags of books Jeff leaves for the libraries at each of the schools where he stops to speak on his CAP2U Tour . His library program helps raise alopecia awareness. Jeff travels across the country raising awareness by offering programs about and for kids with alopecia, and I’m so pleased that Bea will be doing her part to help him.

About the Illustrator of What’s Silly Hair Day With No Hair?

Over to You…

News & Updates

If you live in the Chicago area, you can find me signing Books 1 and 2 in the Cayuga Island Kids series at the Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest, on September 11 and 12! I’m excited to be joining the Cayuga Island Kids series illustrator Gabriella Vagnoli and YA author Barbara Gregorich (The F Words) at the City of Light Publishing table!

No matter where you live, you can register your kids for a four-week virtual literacy enrichment experience offered by Kim Krug, owner of Monkey See, Monkey Do Books taking place on Tuesday evenings throughout the month of October. Children will read and discuss The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek, Book 2 in the Cayuga Island Kids series, and complete a variety of activities. Each participant receives a signed copy of the book, a journal, and more. I’ll join the group virtually in the last session. Find registration details here.

Find information on all my upcoming events.

Final Thought