Bad Hare Day is a children’s book about one little girl creating havoc in a hair salon. Herbert Hare is a hairdresser. In his very classy salon, “The Hare House,” soft music plays, fans whirr and all is calm. It seems that Herbert is a very well known hairdresser since “Everyone came from miles around to be styled, sculpted, cut or conditioned by Herbert.” His interesting clientel for the day include a bear, a Colobus monkey, a llama and a panda.

The story begins as Herbert’s niece, Holly, - a sweet looking little bunny – comes to visit in the salon, promising to be good. As any curious youngster might, Holly starts experimenting with salon facilities, but when Uncle Herbert’s attention is distracted with a delivery, curiosity develops into chaos. Helpful Holly starts playing hairdresser on unsuspecting guests of the salon.

I recommend “Bad Hare Day” for your children, grandchildren or any children ages 4 to 8. It is a fun story with adorable illustrations. It is easy to read and has humor that comes from familiar events. It leads me to think that both the writer and the illustrator may have spent a considerable amount of time in the salon.

Now let me tell you what first attracted me to the book.
It was the illustrator – Lynne Chapman. No, not me, although I would love to claim these beautiful drawings as my own. Artist Lynne Chapman lives in Sheffield, England. She has been an illustrator for over 20 years and has been illustrating children’s books for the last 10 years.

Just as I thought, she does indeed spend time in the salon. When I asked her if she visited a hair salon with this book in mind, she said,

” I based the salon in BHD on my local hairdressers in Sheffield where I have my own hair done once a month. I gave them a signed copy when it was
published and they were thrilled.”

She went on to say;

“I had great fun illustrating the mayhem in BHD. It's far more exciting for me to draw Holly Hare being naughty than being good! I also enjoy making up incidental details to put into my illustrations, like the silly names for
the various magazines, such as 'Hair Today Gone Tomorrow.'

Ms Chapman doesn’t spend all of her time in the studio, but often visits schools where she reads “Bad Hair Day” to the children.

“ I take a wig for one child to wear with lots of detachable, woollen plaits and, while we sing a song, the others take it in turns to play hairdresser with a pair of huge cardboard scissors.”

Read more about Lynne Chapman, the artist, at her website.
Find the book at Amazon.com

Bad Hare Day