Tangle-Knot

by Loretta Ellsworth, Loretta Ellsworth

Tangle-knot is not a word, but it is Fia’s hair.

And Fia thinks it’s perfect, which is why she refuses to brush it, even though her mom always complains it’s a mess. In fact, it’s more than a mess―it’s a nest for a mother bird and her three colorful eggs!

Fia takes excellent care of her birds and shows off her tangle-knot everywhere she goes, attracting lots of attention. As the spectacle grows, so does Mom’s disapproval. But Fia’s commitment to being herself just might be powerful enough to change her mother’s mind.

This whimsical story shines with lighthearted relatability, reminding us that even when our parents just don’t get it, they always want us to be happy.

Genres: Picture Books, Birds, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 6, 2023

About the author

Loretta received her BA from the University of Northern Iowa, and an MFA from Hamline University in writing for children and young adults. A former middle and high school teacher, she's the author of four young adult novels, The Shrouding Woman, In Search of Mockingbird,In a Heartbeat, and Unforgettable. Her WWII historical novel, Stars Over Clear Lake, will be published in 2017. She has four children and six grandchildren, and lives in Minnesota. Follow her on Twitter @lellsworth.

Reviews

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a little girl named Fia who doesn't like to comb her hair. It gets tangled and some birds make a nest and move it. A sweet story about independence and care for nature. Kids will enjoy this one. Loved the twist at the end. It would make a great read-aloud. Highly recommended for Grades K-3.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loretta has seven granddaughters and you can see how they have inspired her writing. I love this book. It's so heartwarming and cute. Many kids have wild hair that gets knotted and doesn't want to have it brushed. I remember saying, "If you don't let me brush your hair, birds will nest in it." I laughed how Loretta took that idea and wrote a book where a bird really nests in Fia's hair... and she loves it. I laughed out loud when she gets off the school bus outside of her house and the media it there and Fia shows off her Tangle-Knot to the Press.

Her mom is pretty patient putting up with a bird living in her daughter's hair, especially when the bird lays eggs and they hatch. Love that it's Fia that decides she needs to cut her hair after the baby birds leave the nest. And the ending of her looking out the window and her birds have built a nest in the tree outside, so she can watch them grow was great! This book is jam packed with smiles.

I also, love Annabel's illustrations. She did a wonderful job depicting Fia's chaotic hair and Mom trying to deal with the situation. The addition of the little cat watching all this happen throughout the book is adorable. I can see how besides making the readers laugh, this book could help parents be more patient and children to understand the need to brush their hair.

You can read Loretta's journey on Writing and Illustrating.com

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any fellow moms who’s daughters hate having their hair brushed? I love to watch my girls’ curly locks flowing free but having them sit still for a comb through can be so challenging.

Fia loves her hair, it’d wild and free with so many bows in it. Her mother disagrees, saying it is a tangled mess or even a bird’s nest! Smiling at the remark, Fia responds “Of course it does, there’s a bird in it!”

As the bird makes itself at home, Fia’s hair nest grows and grows! Mama bird even lays three precious eggs, now Fia must protect her tangle-knot nest at all costs.

This is such a cute story. Fia is quite the bird enthusiast and I love how even though her tangle-knot hair drives her mother crazy, she always supports Fia’s choice. As much as I love my girls’ wild hair, I hope it never gets this wild 😆

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Fia refuses to brush her hair before she goes out to play. "It's a tangled mess," complains Mom. "I like it this way." Her hair always blows around like a tornado and becomes a maze of snarls and knots. The blustery air twists the curls until they're a swirl of tangle-knot, which is not a word, but which is her hair. It's perfect.

Tangle-knot is my hair as well. (Though not perhaps by choice.) I really enjoyed this playful story starring a young girl and her VERY tangled hair. How tangled is it? A bird makes a nest and hatches her three eggs in it. So VERY, VERY tangled. Will she ever brush her hair?

This was a playful and silly story which I appreciated. I love the illustrations.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC through the SLJ Day of Dialogue.
Fia loves having her hair free. She doesn't brush it and just lets it grow wild. A bird builds her nest and three eggs hatch. Through this time, Fia works hard to take care of the mama bird and her babies until they are ready to fly away. By the end, Fia has a new look and new way of connecting with her birds. Colorful illustrations capture the wildness of her hair and the expressions of all the characters.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are cute and definitely show the wildness that has become Fia's hair. This is over-the-top silliness about showing independence and caring for nature mashup. If you can set aside the unhealthy side of having a bird's nest and hatchlings in your hair, readers will enjoy Fia's carefree attitude about not wanting to brush her hair.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.