BOOK 2: "Billy the Dragon Gets His Haircut" is out now.
With Billy the Dragon Gets His Haircut, we wanted to dive into a universal childhood experience with a bit of humor, imagination, and plenty of heart. And the inspiration? Sam’s nephew, Toby! Toby recently shared his own funny story about getting a haircut, complete with a few unforgettable (and slightly outrageous!) suggestions for our book’s storyline.
When Toby told us about his haircut, he shared what he liked best: a well-earned reward. Shock.
He even gave us some creative ideas for Billy’s story—requests we simply couldn’t resist laughing at, like cool hairstyles covered in farts and a dad named “Poo Poo Bum Head.”
While Toby’s ideas didn’t all make it into the final version, his imaginative take on haircuts shaped this story in some big ways. Ultimately, we decided to focus on two main themes for Billy’s haircut adventure:
1. Exploring hairstyles through daydreaming.
For a kid, the idea of choosing a hairstyle is both thrilling and strange—how do you even decide? While grown-ups might pick a style based on convenience or the latest trend, kids are inspired by their favorite characters, friends, and sometimes just whatever feels fun at the moment. Billy, being new to accepting haircuts, thinks that he has lots of style options. From short and spiky to long and wavy, he explores them all in his dreams, leaving readers giggling at each silly hairstyle.
Ultimately though, we all know you can’t have crazy hair as a child as you get sent home from school! A wild concept, but luckily Billy’s Mum knows what’s best. (Max wrote that bit in) He's cute like that.
2. Overcoming the fear cutting hair might hurt.
For many kids, haircuts bring some nervousness. How many times do you see kids crying in the hairdresser? The idea of sharp scissors near their head or buzzing clippers can make anyone a little jumpy!
In Billy’s case, he learns that the tools are just there to help—and that the process can be a lot of fun. With the support of his Mum, he starts to see the whole experience in a new light.
Book 2 has a little bit of everything: big laughs, lighthearted fears, and a sense of pride. We hope readers see their own haircut stories in Billy’s, finding reassurance and fun in every page. So, get cozy, settle in for a good laugh, and get ready to enjoy Billy the Dragon Gets His Haircut—an adventure inspired by the quirks and creativity of real kids like Toby!