Description:
Stanley Birdbaum's elementary school celebrates all sorts of madcap, made-up holidays from Pajama Day to Crazy Hair Day. Stanley is particularly excited about the latter, and one Friday, he and his mom have a wonderful time crafting his kooky coiffure. Using not one but two cans of Halloween hair spray (blue and orange) and plenty of rubber bands, the daring duo creates a masterpiece: "'This,' he said, 'is going to be a day I will never forget.'" That turns out to be true, but not for the reasons Stanley suspects. When he walks into class, all spiky and striped and ready to go, he hears his teacher reminding everyone that Crazy Hair Day is next Friday. Today, in fact, is School Picture Day. Stanley, now sick, runs to the bathroom and doesn't come out, even when his best friend Larry Finchfeather tries to persuade him. Exiled, he eats his lunch, draws pictures, experiments with toilet flushing, and counts drops of water from a leaky faucet. He finally decides to risk more ridicule and get his picture taken with the class. Fortunately, it does prove to be a day Stanley will never forget, because his classmates surprise him by wearing silly, makeshift hats for the school picture that make him and his crazy hair feel right at home. Saltzberg's sweetly comical illustrations suit this engaging, eventually uplifting tale that shows how kids can be unforgettably cruel and unforgettably kind...all in the same day! (Ages 5 and older) --Karin Snelson
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