The Girl with the Parrot on Her Head

Reviewed by: Kathy George - Gray Public Library, Gray, Me 04039, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 20, 2016

Review

A girl named Isabel and a boy named Simon were friends. She had a parrot on her head and he was good with newts. One day Simon moved away - never to return. Now Isabel was alone, sad, angry and alone. How does one cope with the loss of a friend, how does one go on? Hirst tells the reader that being alone is not the end of the world and you can go on- after all Isabel has a parrot on her head! Her text is simple and direct, her illustrations are a bit quirky and childlike, yet convey Isabel's feelings about her situation. Young readers today are often faced with the dilemma of losing a friend due to a move across town or across country. This is a story of change, imagination, problem solving and hope. a keeper.

Overall Book Score: excellent