Identify this children's book

[Owen'nZoe]

This is kind of a spin-off of the books about twins thread, which reminded me of a favorite book from when I was a kid.

I think the book was from the 50's, but could have been 40's or even 60's. It is about a toddler boy who has beautiful red curls. His mother doesn't want to cut his hair, because she loves the curls so much. The little boy has twin sisters I think (or maybe they are brothers?).

People keep mistaking the baby for a girl because of the long hair, so finally the mom relents and takes him for the haircut. There's a definite gender message in it, because in the end he gets the cut, looks like a boy , and everyone (including mom) is happy.

Anyone know this book? Do you remember what it is called?

[ollyoxenfree]

I don't know it, sorry. Have you tried loganberrybooks.com or the goodreads.com? They both have services for people to post their "lost" books and ask for readers to suggest possible titles/authors.

[hildare]

i remember this one! I couldn't find the book anywhere, but what popped into my head about the title was "mop head?"
in the book you're speaking of, did the kids' mom give him money to get his hair cut and he kept avoiding the barbershop?

[gbailey]

Is this the book?
http://www.amazon.com/Mop-Top-Pictur.../dp/0140503269

[Owen'nZoe]

No, that is close, but not it. In the story I'm thinking of, the boy is much younger - like maybe 2. Mop Top looks really cute, though - thanks!

@ollyoxenfree - Thanks for the suggestions! I wasn't aware there was a service like this on goodreads - I'm over there quite a bit, but couldn't find it. Where did you find it? Off to try loganberrybooks, too - thanks!

[ollyoxenfree]

Here's the link to GoodReads What's the Name of That Book? . It was another poster on another Book thread here at MDC who pointed it out. Sorry, I can't remember who it was.

Good luck with the search.

[April Dawn]

Just spotted this thread even though it's been up a few days

Does your local library have a copy of the reference book A to Zoo? It is an unparalleled source for finding picture books. I will try our copy of A to Zoo and see what I turn up.

Edited by April Dawn - 7/6/11 at 8:55am

[April Dawn]

Hmm. I didn't find a clear "aha!" in A to Zoo. In fact, the closest I got was Mop Top, but you said that wasn't it. Here are a couple of possibilities, but neither of them exactly matches what you said:

http://www.amazon.com/Firebrand-Push...8736002&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Jeremys-First-...8735806&sr=1-1

Sorry I didn't find a clear answer!

[Owen'nZoe]

No, those aren't it, either, April Dawn, but thanks for trying! And thanks for the A to Zoo recommendation - I'd never heard of it before.

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by Owen'nZoe

No, those aren't it, either, April Dawn, but thanks for trying! And thanks for the A to Zoo recommendation - I'd never heard of it before.

I spoke to someone at my local library today and was told the book you are talking about sounds like a french book that has been translated to many other languages. She says if she remembers correctly it was called Carrot Top but I couldn't find anything. Is it possible the book was translated to English from another language?

[Owen'nZoe]

@gbailey - The illustrations I remember struck me as very American, and I wouldn't have immediately identified it as a translation, but it is of course possible! I googled Carrot Top and couldn't come up with anything, but will keep trying.

I seem to have stumped the searchers at goodreads and at the UW's CCBC. I think I'm going to have to break down and spring for the $2 loganberrybooks search fee.

Thanks, everyone for all of your guesses and ideas!

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by Owen'nZoe

@gbailey - The illustrations I remember struck me as very American, and I wouldn't have immediately identified it as a translation, but it is of course possible! I googled Carrot Top and couldn't come up with anything, but will keep trying.

I seem to have stumped the searchers at goodreads and at the UW's CCBC. I think I'm going to have to break down and spring for the $2 loganberrybooks search fee.

Thanks, everyone for all of your guesses and ideas!

Please post if you find the name of it. Let's hope you find it before you need to spend any money.

[gbailey]

OP, did you ever find the name of the book? At the library today, I made acopy of the A to Zoo book and here are some of the titles under the subject of hair. Could one of these be the book you're looking for?

* Now I have a daddy haircut by Clara Appell

* I like red by Robert Bright

* Billy the Barber

*Will gets a haircut

* My Barber

[Owen'nZoe]

Thank you so much! That was so kind of you! I had not checked A to Zoo yet, and the titles you found are new to my list. I'll check into them.

I posted on Goodreads and a couple other sites, and got a few possible titles. The ones I've been able to track down have not been it. There are quite a few, though, which are out of print and not available through my library or ILL. Those are going to be a bit more of a challenge to find, but I'm finding it kind of a fun (if very, very slow) process.

Originally Posted by gbailey 

OP, did you ever find the name of the book? At the library today, I made acopy of the A to Zoo book and here are some of the titles under the subject of hair. Could one of these be the book you're looking for?

* Now I have a daddy haircut by Clara Appell

* I like red by Robert Bright

* Billy the Barber

*Will gets a haircut

* My Barber