One day Stephanie decides to wear her hair differently from the other kids in her class and asks her mom to give her a ponytail coming out the back. Her classmates pronounce the hairstyle “Ugly, ugly, very ugly”; but the next day they all show up with identical ponytails. Stephanie calls them brainless copycats, and the next day goes to school with a ponytail coming out the side. Sure enough, the kids all copy this style too. A series of progressively more ridiculous styles culminates in a ponytail coming out the front and hanging down over her nose, which not only causes Stephanie herself to bump into things but results in pandemonium among the copycats. Finally, Stephanie threatens to shave her head and the next day everyone comes to school bald – except for Stephanie, who has returned to her first basic ponytail.

Told in classic Munsch style, this book is another hilarious winner. The repetition of incidents and the mounting stakes of the conflict build suspense throughout; by the end, even the boys and the teacher are copying Stephanie’s hairstyles. Stephanie is a strong character who asserts her individuality by insisting that “it’s my ponytail and I like it” at every turn. Although there are messages here about the importance of self-esteem and the dangers of peer pressure, they are delivered subtly through the outrageous behaviour of kids and adults alike. Michael Martchenko’s bright illustrations add another layer of humour to the story; eventually even dogs, cats, and birds are copying Stephanie’s hairstyles, and the final wordless panel depicting an enraged classroom of the bald stampeding after Stephanie provides the perfect ending to the book.