Best Children's Books of the Year 2009, Bank Street College

"Stier has taken a difficult topic and turned it into a charming story that demystifies the fears and false information surrounding lice infestation. The writing is stylized yet not overdone and comes across simply without sounding didactic."―School Library Journal

"Meticulously groomed Ellie is distraught to learn she has lice, but she uses the unpleasant experience to learn about lice and share the information with her friends. Cartoon drawings capture the range of Ellie's emotions as she deals with her unwelcome visitors. Her advice letter to the 'kid who just found out you have lice' sums up the facts."―The Horn Book Guide

"Educational without being boring, this is a perfect book for schools to keep on hand when the lice strike in first or second grade. A note to grown-ups at the beginning of the book explains current treatment for lice, reassuring them that lice happens even to those of us who are prissy and perfect."―Children's Literature

Kindergarten-Grade 3—When a visit to the school nurse confirms that lice have invaded the pretty hair of "Absolutely Perfect" Ellie, the third grader is horrified—this type of thing doesn't happen to her, she reasons. Ellie and her mom head home to treat the problem, but during the long process Ellie gets so bored that she begins to read the paperwork the nurse gave them. Armed with the not-so-scary facts, she drafts a letter for other kids to reassure them that lice can happen to anyone, and that they are relatively easy to get rid of. When Ellie goes back to school, the nurse loves the letter and distributes copies of it. Stier has taken a difficult topic and turned it into a charming story that demystifies the fears and false information surrounding lice infestation. The writing is stylized yet not overdone and comes across simply without sounding didactic. Cartoon illustrations capture Ellie's emotions as she goes from feeling grossed out to upset, sullen, and, finally, elated to be free of the bugs. The letter is presented at the end of the book; it is hand-printed on sheets of notebook paper and illustrated, adding to the lighthearted approach to a topic that causes many children—and their parents—angst.—Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Stier packs in lots of useful information in the wry story of immaculately groomed Ellie, who goes to the nurse’s office at school with itchy hair and discovers that she has lice. How could “absolutely perfect” Ellie have lice? She shampoos her hair every night! In flowing line-and-watercolor art, Lyon’s pictures show the prima donna in misery and then dealing with the problem, as she and her parents follow the doctor’s step-by-step instructions—working the special get-rid-of-lice treatment through her hair, combing out the nits, and laughing together at her pun, “Little Louse on the Hairy.” In a final double-page spread, Ellie sums up the problem, the panic, the facts, and what needs to be done. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman