Beard Boy

by John Flannery, Steven Weinberg (Illustrations)

Young Ben wants to be just like his awesome dad—bearded.

Ben wants a beard. All the most boss people in his town have them. The baker, the barbers, the butcher, they're all bewhiskered—even the old lady who waits at the bus stop has one. Most of all though, Ben wants a beard just like his dad.

He tries his best to start on some scruff, but nothing works quite right. And when his dad explains he might have to wait 'til he's older for a beard of his own, he decides to take some more permanent action—with a marker that is. In the end, Ben and his dad find the perfect solution in this hilarious and heartwarming picture book celebrating the bond between father and son.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Storytime, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2016

Reviews

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy who wants to have a beard. Has a young boy I remember myself «shaving» using anything that could look even very little as a razor. So I can rely to this one! The story is simple, but cute, original and funny. The illustration have a sketchy messy style, but I like it and it look good! Simple but efficient!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember when my stepdad shaved his beard. It was NOT okay. This book expresses what I suspect is a common reaction now that beards are back and as sons emulate their fathers! Hello, beardos! This book is for you!

[Reading Rainbow Community · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben wants a beard. All of the coolest men in the city have beards: the baker, the barber, the butcher - lots of guy, but especially his dad. He’s tried everything to grow one himself, he’s tried bubbles, and peanut butter, but they don’t really make a good beard. His dad says he has to wait until he’s 26 or 27. When Ben can’t wait that long and tries something desperate, his dad does something unexpected.

This is such a modern representation of city life! The language in the book is very hip (bodaciously bewhiskered, boisterous beards). It’s a great read aloud, whimsically illustrated and an awesome message for today’s beard wishers. I’m glad beards are back in style.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Tori Crumrine]

Illustrations are done in watercolor and pencil and then colored digitally.

This story is about a boy who desperately wants a beard. His father tells him he will have to wait to grow a beard, but the boy decides to draw a beard on himself to be like his father. Then, his father shaves his beard, but his son is unhappy. They go together to a beard store and buy beards so they can match.

This book seems like it would be less of an educational read, and more of an enjoyment book. However, there was a mention of a child with two dads, so perhaps it could tie in with some diversity elements.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben wants a beard. He LOVES beards! He knows everything there is to know about beards. He wants a beard for many reasons, but mostly because his dad has a beard and he wants to look like his dad. Ben’s dad says he needs to be patient, but Ben is not very patient. He draws his own beard with a permanent marker. When Ben’s dad shaves his beard to look more like his son, Ben rushes his dad down to the costume store to find both of them a beard.

Teaching points: OG phonics - letter Bb, vocabulary, role models

Grade level: K-2

Location: LES library

Related reads:
Crazy Hair Day by Barney Saltzberg
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
Don't Touch My Hair by Sharee Miller

[Stephanie Fujii · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about a boy who wants to look like his dad, and grow a beard already! Very "of our time" - a bit hipster with parents wearing matching tattoos, and having the "I'm a woodsman in the city wearing flannel" look. :D

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my 4-year old's current favorites. Doesn't hurt that his dad has a big ole beard. :)

Fun story about a little boy who wants to be just like his bearded dad. Extra points for fun vocabulary, a family with two dads, a tattooed mom, and a fantastic, caring role model of a dad. Love.

[Selkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben wants a beard so that he can be like dear old dad, but what happens when dad shaves his beard?
Read and find out!

I love how the book's illustrations emulates the times: hipster dads, a tattooed mom, diversity, a same-sex couple...

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor kid doesn't want to wait to have an awesome beard!

I will say, that for a book written in 2016, it sure hit that 90s, early 00's slang hard with that "the most boss people had beards" bit. Boss? Seriously? Way to age yourself, author :P

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just awkward....a little TOO awkward for my liking.

[Christopher Huggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty funny book about a boy wanting to look like Dad.

[Kenson and kirra · Rating 3 out of 5]

my dad doesn't have a beard and that's ok with me. i hate it when he kisses me without shaving. his whiskers hurt --age 5

[Nicole Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

my second graders liked this book cute

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reference to homosexual marriage, cute book otherwise

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very bodacious bearded story. 10/10 on the furry face scale. Also, I love that the mom has tattoos and they have a really diverse neighborhood with a variety of fabulous facial hair.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

"All the most 'boss' people..."

Ugh. This is one of those books that is trying to be cool and trendy. And you don't need to put the mom's cleavage in the book. I really didn't like this one.

[Lauren Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with Juliet! “It was good”-Juliet

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

We are now in the era where beard wearing hipster dads are having kids, so it isn't any surprise that there are a number of beard and mustache picture books that have begun appearing. After all, hipsters need picture books too. Which does make me wonder though, were there a plethora of children's books coming out in the sixties and seventies for children of hippies? No matter, this book had a special sort of charm in that of a child wanting to be like his dad. If for no other reason than he looks up to his father and considers him to be "boss". The illustrations are done in child-like cartoons that felt as if Ben himself was illustrating the story. Also, let's not forget that Ben's mother has tattoos, which is also a rarity in picture books and something that made this book stand out all the more.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madam and I laughed at this one, but a heads-up that it does have a family of two dads, which puzzled Madam. Lots of great vocabulary that starts with the letter "b": "boisterous," "bodaciously bewhiskered," "baffled," "beleaguered," and "bleak." Fun sketchy illustrations that you should pay attention to as they have all sorts of zany details hidden in them.

Three things that I adore about this book: 1.) Ben and his Daddy have matching outfits throughout the entire book cementing the fact that they are best buddies and that Ben wants to be just like his Daddy; 2.) the Mom has tattoos and when the Daddy shaves his beard in a really sensitive gesture to try and help Ben, the Mom looks at the Dad with such love that little hearts float in the air (c'mon now everybody...AWWWW); and 3.) I LOVE that the number one reason that Ben wants a beard is so that he can be like his Daddy. *happy sigh*

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of two books about a boy going to extreme lengths to get an awesome beard like his dad's. The boy sees that "all the most boss people in the neighborhood have one". The Brooklyn bridge features in the background of some spreads and the mom wears a long maxi dress and arm tattoos. When all the attempts to get a beard fail, his dad tries to teach him the importance of waiting, even going to the extreme of shaving off his own beard. But the boy in the end decides that the best way to solve this problem is with a trip to the costume shop.

The characters are drawn in blue super scribbles with large googly eyes - a style that distracts from the details of the beards that are pointed out. There's a lot of bright orange sky that kinds hurts my eyes. Overall illustrations aren't terrible but seem to be trying a bit too hard.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little boy in this story wants to have a magnificent beard just like some of the coolest people in his city but most of all because the coolest person, his dad, has a full flowing beard. As he tries to come up with various ways of acquiring such a beard, Dad finally finds a way of making them as alike as possible. But will this work or has Dad gone too far? A funny look at the way children imitate those they look up to and what extremes we will go to to make them happy.

[Ruth Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben wanted to be like his dad and have a beard. After all 'All the most boss people in his neighborhood had one." Ben creatively thinks of ways to have a beard, but then his dad tells him how long he will have to wait to grow his own beard. Dad comes up with a different solution. The endpapers display a 'Beard Hall of Fame" of famous figures with beards who are named on the back of the title page.

[Jessica Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for "B" letter of the week ST. It's a cute book about a boy wanting to grow a beard just like his dad's (and all the "boss people in the neighborhood"). I do also like that the people in the book are diverse, that "both of Bobby's dads rocked boisterous beards", and there are tattoos on Billy's mom and all that jazz.

[Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time when men's facial hair is in high vogue, boys who can't yet even display a bit of peach fuzz are no doubt fascinated by men's hirsute displays. Beard Boy takes us on one youngster's trip through his personal hairy fandom. Cleverly written, and delightfully illustrated, this is a book that boys and girls alike will enjoy, as will parents who get to read it aloud.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A father and son willing to go to any lengths to look alike is endearing. However, I wonder about the father 'giving in' because the boy is too impatient. I do like the problem-solving aspect that is is so strong in the story.
The full-color cartoon-like illustrations are fun and support the text.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of a couple new picture books that portrays city family life in a way that feels realistic. Relatable and funny.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could be the most hipster book I have ever held in my hands. In a good way!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a good premise. I enjoyed how the dad shaved to match his son.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy is keen to have some facial hair like his dad.