Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Macy, an exuberant black girl with two puffy pigtails and a heart-printed skirt, is excited to present to her class about her family-more specifically, "all about my family's hair!" As her teacher and classmates listen, she explains that her grandmother's hair used to be "a big Afro like a ball of cotton candy," while her big sister and her friends have "cornrows, locks and an Afro." Macy's mother always says that "hair is a family affair"-the family is seen helping each other style their hair. Her cousin Kiki changes her look often ("One week her hair is purple and the next it's bright pink"), while Macy's father "has no hair at all!" Freeman's bright and blissful paintings capture the spirit of family togetherness, personal style, and love. Ages 3-up. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A family with hair worth talking about stars in a book that embraces inclusion.Macy tells her classmates about all the different types of hair and hairstyles in her black family. Grandma's amazing Afro when she was younger is now a neat gray one. Baby sister has bright red puffy hair that she will let only Macy brush. Big sister and her friends have locs, braids, and an Afro, and cousin Kiki's hair is a different color every time Macy sees her. The book's most heartwarming illustration features a double-page spread of Mum combing big sister's hair, who pats one of Macy's puffballs, who plays in baby's hair. Hair is truly a family affair! The vibrantly colored (perhaps watercolor) illustrations feature different types of diversity among the all-black characters: One of big sister's friends appears to be gender nonconforming, wearing a tie, shorts, and cornrows wound into two big bantu knots; one of Macy's classmates appears to have albinism, and Macy's best friend, Troy, aspires to be a famous hairdresser (while Macy intends to be a famous doctor). The endpapers showcase 13 illustrated brown-skinned hair models with flair. Notably, all of the hairstyles in Freeman's book are natural, which sends a positive message about natural Afro hair free of chemicals or heat for straightening.A fine mirror book for kids with textured hair that has endless possibilities. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
