Head Lice. (Disgusting Critters). Élise Gravel. Toronto, ON: Tundra, 2015. 32 pp., hardcover & ebook, $12.99 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-770-49661-3 (hc.), ISBN 978-1-770-49663-7 (ebook). Subject Headings: Lice-Juvenile literature. Pediculosis-Juvenile literature. Grades 1-3 / Ages 6-8. Review by Gail Hamilton. *** /4

excerpt:

To go from one head to another, the louse has to wait for heads to touch or for people to exchange hats or clothes with lice on them. He doesn’t care one bit if you’re clean or dirty.

Part of the “Disgusting Critters” series, this fun, off-beat book explains the louse’s life cycle, body parts and “habitat”- the human head- as well as how people get head lice, in a factual, yet comical, way. Each fact is presented on a double-page spread with key words printed in a large, bold coloured text, and the main character, the louse, speaks directly to the reader via speech bubbles, usually adding some funny comment (“A dog!? Gross. Let the fleas have him,” or “They call me Count Draculouse.”) Though the cover looks as if it belongs on a book printed in the 1970s, the simple cartoon drawings within the book, rendered in a limited colour palette, will appeal to youngsters. The information, illustrations and the amusing tone of the text effectively help to reduce the stigma associated with having head lice. There is only one minor flaw in the book: the author doesn’t tell how people get rid of lice; she only offers a tip that if one should see a louse, “RUN AWAY!”

      Energetic, entertaining and worthy of purchase for any school or public library.

Recommended.

Gail Hamilton is a former teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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