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Crazy hair
Crazy Hair is a fantastically fun tale written by New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by the astoundingly talented Dave McKean, the award-winning team behind The Wolves in the Walls.
In Crazy Hair, Bonnie makes a friend who has hair so wild there's even a jungle inside of it! Bonnie ventures through the crazy hair, but she may need more than a comb to tame her friend's insane mane.
In Crazy Hair, Bonnie makes a friend who has hair so wild there's even a jungle inside of it! Bonnie ventures through the crazy hair, but she may need more than a comb to tame her friend's insane mane.
40 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2009
9 people are currently reading
1619 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews
December 29, 2009
Probably actually only four stars, but this one gets points for not being horrible -- like, extra points. I feel bad, Mr. Gaiman -- you and I have been through some hard times recently and when you actually pull it off, I think you deserve some props.
Also my mother didn't like this book and thought it was pointless, and seriously? Points for weirding out my mom. She was getting entirely too comfortable with your oeuvre.
So yeah. The art's good, there are tentacles involved, the ending is nihilistically unsatisfying (the best kind of unsatisfying) and really, you only lose points for thinking that "crazy" is a good sort of iambic pentameter word, and it isn't. Crazy. Crazy. Say it. Crazy. It's like not quite two beats long, with that weird sliding "z" trailing into the "y." It just screws up the meter every time.
So yeah. That part didn't work so much, and so of course you overused it. But you've committed worse offenses (i.e. Blueberry Girl) And you know, you channeled Shel Silverstein without embarrassing yourself, so we're proud of you. Thanks so much.
Also my mother didn't like this book and thought it was pointless, and seriously? Points for weirding out my mom. She was getting entirely too comfortable with your oeuvre.
So yeah. The art's good, there are tentacles involved, the ending is nihilistically unsatisfying (the best kind of unsatisfying) and really, you only lose points for thinking that "crazy" is a good sort of iambic pentameter word, and it isn't. Crazy. Crazy. Say it. Crazy. It's like not quite two beats long, with that weird sliding "z" trailing into the "y." It just screws up the meter every time.
So yeah. That part didn't work so much, and so of course you overused it. But you've committed worse offenses (i.e. Blueberry Girl) And you know, you channeled Shel Silverstein without embarrassing yourself, so we're proud of you. Thanks so much.
July 2, 2017
Yes Yes absolutely loved it. 👏👏👏👏👏 Whimsical and lovely.
November 11, 2012
A beautifully written and illustrated fantasy book for young children.
This is a gorgeous children's book with rhymes by Neil Gaiman and art work by Dave McKean. It is the story of young Bonnie who meets a fellow with some pretty wild hair. Pirates, bears, tigers, birds, hunters and huge balloons live in this crazy hair. She tries to comb it but gets sucked up into the hair by a bear!!
This is the type of book that would appeal to kids who have a wild imagination.
When my kids were young we went to the library all the time. A place for so many wondrous books and stories to be discovered. We read books daily. My kids are now grown and in university.... I really miss those early days. *sigh* They would have LOVED this wild story!
This is a gorgeous children's book with rhymes by Neil Gaiman and art work by Dave McKean. It is the story of young Bonnie who meets a fellow with some pretty wild hair. Pirates, bears, tigers, birds, hunters and huge balloons live in this crazy hair. She tries to comb it but gets sucked up into the hair by a bear!!
This is the type of book that would appeal to kids who have a wild imagination.
When my kids were young we went to the library all the time. A place for so many wondrous books and stories to be discovered. We read books daily. My kids are now grown and in university.... I really miss those early days. *sigh* They would have LOVED this wild story!
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October 27, 2025Sometimes the books you once enjoyed just... hit a bit different when you learn too much.
This one used to be a 3 star read.
My original review - cause some can separate the art and this book had rather good elements... but I'm really struggling here.
This one used to be a 3 star read.
My original review - cause some can separate the art and this book had rather good elements... but I'm really struggling here.
August 18, 2017
Another strange and wonderful book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean.
July 12, 2019
I laughed out loud as I was reading this book at the sheer WTF-ery of it all. What is this?
At first glance, I was reminded of the film MirrorMask, which makes sense since McKean directed it. The illustration style here is... well, different. I'm not sure how appealing it will be to children (especially young children); this almost seems like a picture book that was written for adults.
In rhyming text, we're told the story of Bonnie and her new friend with such crazy hair that it basically has its own ecosystem. The text is pretty much nonsense (although the meter is decent) and the story is absolutely ludicrous.
I think this book is going to find its fans through the illustrations. You'll either love them or hate them (or want to seek therapy after seeing some of them). The hair itself is photorealistic in many of the illustrations. My skin started to crawl about halfway through the book, and I pretty much shuddered when we were treated to an extreme close-up of the strands. There are some creepy eyeballs floating about, carousel horses that look like they jumped out of a nightmare, and figures so stylized that they almost look like drug-fuelled hallucinations. However, there are some interesting touches as well, such as Bonnie's changing t-shirt, the bear, and the use of colour.
I'm not even sure how to rate this. For me, it's a memorable book... though not for entirely positive reasons. I'm sure there are people who love this kind of book (the high rating on Goodreads is proof of this), but I personally don't. I'm not even sure I like it. It's just a little too weird for me.
At first glance, I was reminded of the film MirrorMask, which makes sense since McKean directed it. The illustration style here is... well, different. I'm not sure how appealing it will be to children (especially young children); this almost seems like a picture book that was written for adults.
In rhyming text, we're told the story of Bonnie and her new friend with such crazy hair that it basically has its own ecosystem. The text is pretty much nonsense (although the meter is decent) and the story is absolutely ludicrous.
I think this book is going to find its fans through the illustrations. You'll either love them or hate them (or want to seek therapy after seeing some of them). The hair itself is photorealistic in many of the illustrations. My skin started to crawl about halfway through the book, and I pretty much shuddered when we were treated to an extreme close-up of the strands. There are some creepy eyeballs floating about, carousel horses that look like they jumped out of a nightmare, and figures so stylized that they almost look like drug-fuelled hallucinations. However, there are some interesting touches as well, such as Bonnie's changing t-shirt, the bear, and the use of colour.
I'm not even sure how to rate this. For me, it's a memorable book... though not for entirely positive reasons. I'm sure there are people who love this kind of book (the high rating on Goodreads is proof of this), but I personally don't. I'm not even sure I like it. It's just a little too weird for me.
December 28, 2022
✩ 4 stars
September 3, 2019
Inventive, outrageous, imaginative - in short, crazy! This rhyming picture-book follows the story of a man with crazy hair and the young girl who is determined to 'fix' his unruly locks. As the man explains just how out of control his hair is, playing host to any number of creatures, Bonnie counters with a comb. Unfortunately for her (or fortunately, as the case may be), the residents of the man's hair don't take well to being disturbed...
Only the second picture-book I have read from the prolific Neil Gaiman (the first being Instructions), Crazy Hair was an absolute hoot! The rhyming text reads well - "Child! Are you mad!" / I cried / "Combs and brushes / Have been tried. / Once was eaten / By a bear / Prowling through my crazy hair" - and would make an excellent story-time selection, while the surreal artwork by Dave McKean, who has worked with Gaiman on such titles as Coraline and The Graveyard Book , captures the madcap sense of fun of the text. Recommended to all Gaiman fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books featuring a silly and wondrously imaginative sense of fun.
Only the second picture-book I have read from the prolific Neil Gaiman (the first being Instructions), Crazy Hair was an absolute hoot! The rhyming text reads well - "Child! Are you mad!" / I cried / "Combs and brushes / Have been tried. / Once was eaten / By a bear / Prowling through my crazy hair" - and would make an excellent story-time selection, while the surreal artwork by Dave McKean, who has worked with Gaiman on such titles as Coraline and The Graveyard Book , captures the madcap sense of fun of the text. Recommended to all Gaiman fans, and to anyone looking for picture-books featuring a silly and wondrously imaginative sense of fun.
November 10, 2010
Oh, I came to this book with a lot of skepticism. In fact, I didn’t even have it on my to-read shelf, but happened to see it at the library. I always want to love Gaiman’s books so much more than I usually do. I have “kind of crazy hair” and I really enjoyed The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School, and so I decided to give this one a try too.
Well, it didn’t take long for me to become engaged. The illustrations are unusual and really interesting, and not as scary as I’d heard, in my opinion. I particularly love the cockatoos and the facial expressions of the lost hunters. The story poem is very, very funny. The story and pictures work together wonderfully.
Ah, I thought it was a woman, not a man, but I guess it is a man. So, I would have rather the crazy hair person (whoever they are) comb her/his own hair. It could have been just as amusing and less creepy. This is definitely a weird book but it is very creatively done.
Well, it didn’t take long for me to become engaged. The illustrations are unusual and really interesting, and not as scary as I’d heard, in my opinion. I particularly love the cockatoos and the facial expressions of the lost hunters. The story poem is very, very funny. The story and pictures work together wonderfully.
Ah, I thought it was a woman, not a man, but I guess it is a man. So, I would have rather the crazy hair person (whoever they are) comb her/his own hair. It could have been just as amusing and less creepy. This is definitely a weird book but it is very creatively done.
May 18, 2016
I love Neil Gaiman, his crazy hair and what happens in there!!!
January 5, 2013
Crazy Hair is one of the book that I found in Big Bad Wolf Sale which I try to get for my nephew since when he's getting older, he won't get pink fairy tale book hand-me-downs and instead a creepy Neil Gaiman book.
Well, it is a given since these guys made Mirrormask.
I don't know about you, it does nothing with Mirrormask's creep noir level.
But it is intended to be a children's book. Very thin but rich with texture and colors that made it an interesting book for even adults to read... that or Neil Gaiman fans.
Its about a guy with creepy hair that have weird things in it and that its floating from the sky. Very original and very whimsical innocent fairy-tales format like and very gender neutral. I don't think anyone would have issue in owning this book. It is hard for anyone to elicit proper emotions from lines and colours and in this McKean does wonders to the eyes. Gaiman on the other hand, contributed with interesting words along the pages as the character try to explain to his *probably* daughter about his hair and how his hair have weird things inside them.
If you have weird sense of humor, for a short picture book, the story is really hilarious in wacky way.
September 18, 2015
Funny, different and nice pictures - Neil Gaiman sure is an author I want to read more of.
Read my whole review at Book Obsession.
Read my whole review at Book Obsession.
October 20, 2012
Si lo que hay dentro quieres ver
Entre estas páginas tiene que ser.
Toma el peine, a ver qué encuentras
y espero que disfrutes el viaje mientras.
Entre estas páginas tiene que ser.
Toma el peine, a ver qué encuentras
y espero que disfrutes el viaje mientras.
February 21, 2015
Okay words but the illustrations repulsed me. Not a fan. Sorry!
August 17, 2022
This was a really random read but it was an audiobook available at my library so I thought, no harm no foul! Anyway, this dude in the book has really crazy hair. 😂😂
March 21, 2015
Crazy Hair is a children's picture book that sparked my interest after researching various goodreads choice awards nominations over the years. It is a light fantasy story about a man's hair and what goes on inside it. A girl thinks combing the man's hair will help but as she combs it, something from the man's hair grabs her and she is now added to all the adventures happening in the man's crazy hair. Neil Gaiman's writing style and Dave McKean's illustrations blow other picture books out of the water. I adore Neil Gaiman so maybe I'm just biased...
October 31, 2017
This is a fun story to read, albeit a bit yucky. I mean all of that stuff living in the protagonists' hair? But, you can't deny that it was fun and enjoyable to read. You'll notice I've suddenly gone on a rampage with most of Neil Gaiman's children's books, and that was mostly due to reading his biography by Hayley Campbell, which was fantastic, and they go into the background and thinking process of all these stories. It's always nice to get inside of a writer's mind to see how he thinks up all this crazy stuff. You quickly learn that the biggest source of inspiration for his children's stories is his kid. She's his muse.
Now this was a super fast read that is written as a rhyme. So don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.
Now this was a super fast read that is written as a rhyme. So don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.
June 9, 2009
Okay I now have a new favorite book by Neil Gaiman. I absolutely adore Crazy Hair! It is an amusing rhyming tale about all that goes on up in his crazy hair.
In my hair Gorillas leap,
Tigers stalk,
And ground sloths sleep.
Prides of lions
Make their lair
Somewhere
in my crazy hair.
The artwork of Dave McKean is awesome. I love his hairy illustrations. They are tangled with lots of vivid nuances. In other words, great eye candy.
And though I am not one to usually place a dare...
I would challenge him on who has the craziest hair.
In my hair Gorillas leap,
Tigers stalk,
And ground sloths sleep.
Prides of lions
Make their lair
Somewhere
in my crazy hair.
The artwork of Dave McKean is awesome. I love his hairy illustrations. They are tangled with lots of vivid nuances. In other words, great eye candy.
And though I am not one to usually place a dare...
I would challenge him on who has the craziest hair.
January 17, 2015
This is a really cool children's book. The illustrations are very unique and creative. The actual story is pretty interesting too, and I enjoyed the structure of the sentences. I also thought the ending was a bit atypical for a book made for little kids, to the point where it might scare some. But what's childhood without a paralyzing fear of becoming lost in someone's hair forever? I definitely recommend it.
June 1, 2011
I loved the illustrations, but didn't care for the story so much. I thought it might have a Gaiman-esque macabre/sinister ending, but it didn't. However, I do like the picture toward the end of Bonnie blissfully surrounded by all that hair, which looked good on her. Disappointing story, terrific illustrations.
March 27, 2015
Another wild story by Gaiman and illustrated by the wonderful McKean. A little girl tells a man how weird and crazy his hair is. The man goes on to tell the girl that everything and anything can be found in his hair. The rhymes are clever and the pictures make the story even better. The ending is surprising and unexpected. I love Gaiman's books!
December 5, 2023
This was a very fun little story about a guy's CRAZY hair! All sorts of things happened and lived in there! Made even better by Dave McKean's wonderful artwork!
2023: Reread with my 8yo, along with many other Neil Gaiman picture books!
2023: Reread with my 8yo, along with many other Neil Gaiman picture books!
August 1, 2015
I wanna know how to love and live with my own crazy hair!
February 22, 2016
he wrote this about me.
November 17, 2016
Just another fun journey Gaiman gives. Short, random, but so much fun.
January 14, 2017
Adorable
November 8, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this story, which teaches children the power of their imaginations. The story is about two girls. One girl comments that the other one has crazy hair, as if in a negative way, so the 'girl with crazy hair' tells the other girl and the reader about all the really cool things that happen in her hair! The first girl then tries to tame the hair of the 'girl with crazy hair', and ends up getting drawn into the hair and having her own adventures. It is like her imagination has been opened. I think there are plenty of opportunities for class discussions stemming from this book about creativity and imagination, but also how people can respond positively when something negative is said to them.
I found the layout slightly confusing at first, with slightly confusing speech bubbles, but found it much easier to understand without the bubbles. The illustrations are amazing - with the hair running all over the pages looking very real. There is so much to explore on each page within the illustrations; they are full of colour and interesting patterns. I particularly like the parrots and think it would be great for children to create their own bird paintings in art.
This is a rhyming story, which I really like. This book could be used to teach children about the power of using interesting verbs e.g. leap, stalk. Alliteration can be discussed (twisting tangling trails) along with various punctuation.
I found the layout slightly confusing at first, with slightly confusing speech bubbles, but found it much easier to understand without the bubbles. The illustrations are amazing - with the hair running all over the pages looking very real. There is so much to explore on each page within the illustrations; they are full of colour and interesting patterns. I particularly like the parrots and think it would be great for children to create their own bird paintings in art.
This is a rhyming story, which I really like. This book could be used to teach children about the power of using interesting verbs e.g. leap, stalk. Alliteration can be discussed (twisting tangling trails) along with various punctuation.
January 25, 2020
Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean is a beautifully illustrated rhyming children’s book. It’s about a girl named Bonnie that meets a friend with crazy and wild hair. This book shows the imagination that children have. It shows that his hair is a nest for lots of beautiful birds, like colorful cockatoos. It’s a jungle for lions, gorillas, tigers, and sloths that made their home in this crazy hair. There’s expeditions, and dancers, hot air balloons, pools, water slides, and much more. It’s about the imagination of a child and how they could think if in the crazy hair there could be an entirely different world.
February 5, 2019
I don't even remember what happened in this, just the distinct impression of "man what weird art" but it was an enjoyable read, 4/5, would love to scare a child with this
July 12, 2019
This weird and wild story of one crazy head of hair will definitely be appreciated by kids old enough to like their entertainment a little bit on the creepy side.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 433 reviews