Haircut

Theo Heras is a performer, speaker, book reviewer, and a children’s librarian. Passionate about literature and programming for babies and toddlers, Theo published the picture books Hat On, Hat Off, Baby Cakes, Where's Bunny? and The Haircut. She has also recorded two albums: What Will We Do with the Baby-o?, and Seashell, Sing a Song to Me. Theo lives in Toronto, Ontario.Renné Benoit is living her childhood dream of being an artist. Trained in graphic design, she is the award-winning illustrator of more than 15 books for children. Her awards include the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award for Children’s Literature for Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion; the OLA Silver Birch Express Award for The Secret of the Village Fool; and the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize for both Fraser Bear and Goodbye to Griffith Street. The latter was also nominated for the Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award. Big City Bees was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Illustration. Renné lives in St. Thomas, Ontario.

2020 Toronto Public Library First & Best List SLJ “29 Sturdy and Fun Board Books to Delight Little Ones” Feature“6 Choice Board Books for Early Learning Shelves” | SLJ 2026 Stars So Far Feature“By showing the haircut from beginning to end, the story may ease worries for little ones preparing for their own appointment.” Verdict: A first purchase — School Library Journal (Starred Review)“There aren’t a lot of books about first haircuts and I’m a big believer in using books to introduce new experiences. So, this book is a welcome one on the shelf. And, the illustrations are beautiful to boot.” —Growing Book by Book Blog“Highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, Kindergarten, and community library collections for ages 2-5, and a fun little read from start to finish.” –Midwest Book Review“This board book shows a little boy before and after his first trip to the barbershop for his first haircut.” –Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's and Young Adult Literature“This is a solid choice for my community.” –Flying Off My Bookshelf Blog"Filled with humour and honesty, the book sets up an atmosphere where it’s okay to feel your feelings and that the adults are there to be supportive and gentle….The balance of discomfort and delight throughout the story is a lovely way to introduce young children to new experiences, like haircuts, and set the stage for conversations about other new things.”—Canadian Children’s Book News“A great read aloud for fathers and sons to bond over this ‘first haircut experience’ and to ease the anxiety for toddlers in going to the barbershop.”—Youth Services Book Review “What a wonderful book to read with toddlers (and then get them reading for themselves) who will be experiencing their first haircut….Whether a parent wants to help a child to prepare for that first haircut or to reminisce about that first experience, The Haircut is there for a snuggly read.”—CanLit for LittleCanadians“Told with simplicity in short, clipped sentences, The Haircut will be relatable to toddlers, many of whom will have some anxiety about getting their hair cut for the first time. The large book format, with padded covers and rounded corners, is perfect for little ones, and the heavy pages make it both durable and easy for toddlers to turn the pages. Renné Benoit’s soft watercolor illustrations, rendered in muted shades of blue, tan and sienna with pops of red, add charm to the story….Recommended.”—CM Magazine “This picture book for ages one to three prepares a child for their first visit to a hairdresser or barber….I loved the illustrations by Benoit as well. The boy is so cute and his expressions are so relatable. A great book for any library or home collection.”—Canadian Bookworm“The text is wonderfully spare – this would be a delightful pick for a baby or toddler time, where attention spans are often limited…Heras was a children’s librarian for 24 years, and it shows in her writing – she really knows what makes for a successful book for the littlest listeners. And as always, Benoit’s illustrations are charming…”—Raincity Librarian“Heras shows how something a little scary becomes much easier with Daddy along to make it better….A cute story to share with kids that are worried about their first haircut.”—Mr. Alex’s Bookshelf“The first haircut, or actually most haircuts for a young child, can be a scary experience. This is a good book to share with a child who might be nervous about getting a haircut.”—Mrs. Book Dragon