Amanda's Perfect Hair

Thanks to her uncontrollable mass of golden curls, Amanda isn't having just a bad hair day--she is having a bad hair life. Amanda's amazing mane precedes her into any room, gets slammed in the car door, stuck in zippers and is so springy that it blows her cap sky high. The next-door neighbor compares Amanda's tresses to Niagara Falls, and Amanda's little brother claims that when her hair is braided ``it looks like a python slithering down a tree.'' With so much attention focused on her unruly locks, Amanda can't help worrying if her hair is ``the best thing about her. Maybe it is what makes her special.'' Finally, Amanda takes matters (and a pair of scissors) into her own hands, stalks into the bathroom, and gives herself a haircut. Quirky, cartoon-like drawings provide readers with a chance to admire one of the ``wonderful new hairdos'' Amanda's friends invent for her. Milstein's message may not be terribly new, but her perky, imaginative storytelling gives it a saucy flip. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)