Tousled: Tousled: A Heartwarming Picture Book for Kids About Uniqueness, Confidence, and Helping Others.

by Rooney Lennon, Andy Catling (illustrator)

Sunny is a lively little girl with beautiful, blonde hair that’s a bit out of control. She is so busy enjoying her life and her hair that she often doesn’t notice how hard her mom works to keep it under control. But could there be something else Sunny is missing? Join Sunny as she learns that our gifts are meant to be shared.

Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2024

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tousled, written by Rooney Lennon and illustrated by Andy Catling, follows a spirited young girl named Sunny, who has a head full of long and incredibly unruly hair. Sunny’s hair grows rapidly, collects various treasures, and is a perpetual challenge for her mother. Despite the trouble her hair causes, Sunny adores her luscious mane. She and her friends find creative uses for her locks, from jumping rope to climbing towers. However, when Sunny visits the hair salon with her mother, she discovers a profound purpose for her hair that she had never considered.

Tousled is a vibrantly illustrated tale where Sunny’s stunning head of hair seems to take on a life of its own. Young readers will delight in losing themselves in Andy Catling’s colorful and detailed illustrations. The attention to detail on each page is truly remarkable, inviting children to revisit Sunny’s story time and time again. The heartfelt message conveyed in Lennon’s engaging children’s book is one that parents and teachers will appreciate. When Sunny learns that she can donate her locks to children undergoing cancer treatment, readers will feel a significant and touching shift in the book’s tone—a true highlight in a children’s story. The humor and rhyme will capture readers’ attention, while the message of generosity and its impactful real-life connections will stay with them long after the last page is turned.

Tousled is a delightful and meaningful read, combining playful storytelling with a powerful message of kindness and selflessness. Rooney Lennon’s engaging narrative and Andy Catling’s enchanting illustrations make this a must-read for young children and a valuable addition to any library.

[Kitty Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tousled, like many children's books, delves into themes that resonate with adults as well. In this tale, our protagonist's mother grapples with societal judgment, the pressure to conform, and the challenge of curbing her child's unconventional behavior, while Sunny, our carefree heroine, remains untroubled by such inhibitions. Despite her mother's efforts to tame Sunny's wild mane into societal norms, Sunny's untamed spirit shines through. Indeed, her unruly hair serves as a powerful metaphor for individuality, a message children will grasp intuitively, with those inclined towards rebellion recognizing its symbolic significance.

As the story unfolds, Sunny's mother gradually comes to appreciate her daughter's wild nature, redirecting it towards acts of kindness and generosity. This transformation offers a poignant message, welcomed by some parents and thoughtfully challenging for others.

Visually captivating, Tousled boasts beautiful illustrations and thoughtful formatting, with even the font selection contributing to the narrative. In summary, for audiences valuing community and timeless themes, Tousled promises to become a cherished classic, passed down through generations.

[David Okonah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book teaches the reader that sharing is caring. Sunny, the character in the book, is blessed with long hair. She loves her hair and cherishes it by taking good care of it. The attention she gets makes her happy. While waiting for her mom in the salon, she learned a valuable lesson when glancing at a flyer. She learned about bald children who were unhappy. It dawned on her that she could share her hair with other children and bring joy to them. By doing this, she learned two life lessons: 1) that giving to others helps us mature and grow, and 2) what makes people glow from the inside out is what they choose to do with their hearts. Essential life lessons to learn early.

[A T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valuable storybook

This children's storybook is such a sweet and fun read! Sunny’s wild, blonde hair and energetic personality really make her an adorable character. The story reminds readers about the importance of sharing and appreciating what we have. It's light-hearted but still gives a great message for kids (and even adults) about gratitude and thoughtfulness. The illustrations are cute, and the story moves along nicely. It's perfect for a quick, feel-good bedtime read. If you're looking for a charming tale with heart, this one definitely delivers.

[Madison Barclay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming tale for little ones!

"Tousled" is an absolute delight! Sunny's wild blonde hair and carefree spirit will captivate young readers, and the heartwarming message about sharing our gifts adds depth to the fun. The vibrant illustrations bring the story to life, making it perfect for reading aloud. My niece loved following Sunny’s adventure, and I appreciated the underlying lesson. This beautifully told tale is sure to be a favorite for both kids and adults alike. Highly recommend for any storytime!

[conscious reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book

This book is both sweet and entertaining. The story is particularly fun as it humorously details the troubles the mother faces in taking care of her daughter’s extraordinarily long hair. The narrative culminates in a heartfelt lesson about the importance of giving, leaving a meaningful impression on young readers. The wonderful illustrations perfectly complement the story.

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover; is somewhat deceptive ( ? ) …

… I was sure it was going to be about an octopus; which it was Not ( !!! )
The drawing style is The new inattentive Hanna Barbara style that was extensively used for near all cartooning for about 50 years, so this new style is clearly derived from it, but slightly less annoying.
I haven’t read The story yet, so I can’t reveal any opinion about it, possibly later.

[Ed Gehres · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun! Wonderful illustrations and fantastic story!

I was having fun reading the book and watching all the crazy pictures of the hair, and then we got to the latter portion of the book and the heartwarming sharing moral appeared and said, “aw!” right out loud. Pick this one up, you’ll love it!

[Peggy Shumway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book and Message

Tousled is a delightful book with a message of using our blessings to help others. This hair adventure is creative and fun, and the pictures are brilliant in scope and engagement. I can’t wait to read it to my grandchild. I’d recommend Touseled to any parent looking to entertain their children.

[sureshot · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many good things about this children's book. Teh illustrations are excellent. They are colorful and likely to engage children. The story is cute and will make kids laugh. There are also a couple of good messages about the importance of what's inside and giving. Overall, I think this book would be an excellent early reader.

[Michelle Kssili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny reminds me of myself when I was that age (except I had red hair). My mother tried everything to keep my hair from frizzing. And even to this day, at the age of 49, I still find my hair everywhere. I understand her frustrations. What a wonderful story- teaching girls to donate their hair. I agree. " What makes a person glow from the inside out is what they choose to do with their heart."

[Steven Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

So many little and big things makes this book! From the perfect wording and amplifications of words to the brilliant illustrations to the sweet rhymes! Everything works with this book!!!

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story
Sunny have lovely long hair which keeps growing up fast. Her mother has a tough time managing it.
One day Sunny has a plan for it.
Beautiful simple story with a deep message. Lovely illustrations. Enjoyable both for adults and kids.

[V.L. Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this

Love the massage of a little girl named Sunny who’s’ hail grew wild and long. And who ultimately donated it to children with no hair. It touched my heart and it will touch yours. What a sweet book for kids.

[Rachel E. Croxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book about a young girls messy and seemingly unmanageable hair, had a twist I wasn't expecting at the end. I thought it was sweet, and the perfect ending for such a story about really long hair.

[Alexis Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Help others to feel beautiful

I like how the princess was admired for her beautiful hair and even more admired for donating her tress to sick kids. And gorgeous illustration. Great book.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book to encourage any kid with unruly hair to embrace their natural texture :) I did have to read a couple of the rhymes more than once to get the right cadence, but that didn't seem to bother my kiddo :)

[Busy Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully illustrated children’s book with a fun storyline that had a really important message for children about valuing what’s on the inside rather than the outside, and doing your best to help other people. Great gift for young children.

[T.J. Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute story about generosity and giving. Beautiful illustrations with endless details to delight young readers. The story is told in fun giggle inducing rhymes that will keep you coming back night after night.

[Danny Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable!

This is such a cute story with a very heartfelt message. The illustrations were amazing and complimented this beautiful story perfectly.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tousled by Rooney Lennon – This Amazon freebie has a kindhearted and free haired spirit! Very sweet! Happy Reading!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice take on a princess with magical hair. Rounded up from 3.5.

[Mara Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story. I love these illustrations. I love that a portion of the proceeds go a great related cause!

[Laurie Bowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is beautifully completed and carries an important message. The rhyming is spot on, and the message is conveyed clearly, along with the beautiful illustrations on each page.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is heartwarming, but the greatest advantage of this book is its beautiful pictures. Overall, it is a very nice book and recommended.

[Patricia Tiffany Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming and Lovely Illustrations

A book that my girls who hated to brush their hair, would have laughed out loud. Lovely illustrations. Well done.

[Lucy Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely adorable. I love Rapunzel retellings, and this one is so heartwarming. It’s a wonderful story for all ages. Whether you get this book for your children or for yourself, everyone who’s touched by this beautiful story will walk away with an incredible lesson about our purpose in this world and what we can do for others. Highly recommend this read!