Mullets

By Nick Sharratt

Reviewed by Zewlan Moor

Welcome to baby’s first non-fiction information picture book about the cultural phenomenon known as the mullet. As depicted in a diagram on pp 4-5, the mullet hairstyle consists of a “short and choppy” front and a “long and floppy” back.

The book consists of rhyming and rhythmic elements, and a satisfying penultimate twist, followed by an even more satisfying ultimate twist. A French twist, if you will.

It’s a slight book at 24 pages but in a portfolio format that allows the full lustrousness of the mullet to cascade down the page. It contains cute images of everyday people, animals and objects with cringeworthy haircuts. These include children, babies, dogs, mice and even cars!

Sharratt’s signature figurative style, with bold black outlines and bright block colours, is suitable for toddlers and babies being read to on a carer’s lap, or for preschoolers being read to in a classroom.

The only disconcerting thing for an Australian audience is that the map of the Mullet Isle at the start of the book looks deceptively like the British Isles, when we all know that Australia is the true home of the hideous/hipster (depending on your viewpoint) hairdo!

Penguin 2025

Nick Sharratt

Zewlan Moor is the author of Nothing Alike and The Bill Dup and Our World: Philippines