ABOUT THIS BOOK

How can Billy Tartle make his class picture super-cool? How about a cool haircut—a Mohawk with big spikes! And it must be bright-bright yellow, no pink, no green—well some kinda cool color! Billy's mom just wants him to get a regular old haircut, look handsome, and smile nice—sooo bo-ring! Will Billy be able to outwit her and kindly Barber Ken?

Of course!

A familiar childhood ritual is given a fresh, nutty spin in this tale of how kids want things to be fun and parents want things to be normal. But everybody will smile when Billy Tartle gets into the picture!

Michael Townsend, a recent graduate of the School of Visual Arts, makes his debut with this fun, loopy story. He lives in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.


REVIEWS

Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, July/August 2007:
"[Billy's] adventurous take on reality fits the comic-strip medium perfectly, joining with the straightforward physical comedy of his exploits to add energy."


AWARDS

WINNER 2007 - Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
WINNER 2008 - Gryphon Award