Mr. Fiorello’s Head

Hair loss offers an intriguing way for Ruiz (A Gift from Abuela) to tackle themes of change, loss, and acceptance in this moving picture book. Mr. Fiorello, a pale-skinned man with round, rosy cheeks and “thick, lush, curly locks,” loves his hair—in one spread, he sits on the side of a bathtub, carefully brushing it out. But sometimes, “the things we care about the most, the things we never want to see gone, leave anyway.” Print-style artwork shows the trees outside Mr. Fiorello’s window losing their leaves, then pans to a new version of Mr. Fiorello, who sports a ponytail at the back of his head and three unruly hairs on top. A comic sequence details the measures he takes to vanquish the three rebel strands (“He tried mowing them down”). Resignation brings, strangely enough, the rebellious hairs’ quiet disappearance, and this life change inspires a new, growth-centered hobby. Geometric shapes in pinks and greens give toylike lightness to the images, while a lengthy page count allows Ruiz space to explore Mr. Fiorello’s arc through the loss of an important part of his identity—and the introspection and change that result. Ages 6–9. (Oct.)