Magic like that

Samara Cole Doyon

Book - 2021

While her mother works magic styling her hair, a young Black girl recalls how her hairstyles can reflect the natural world and show that her hair can be elegant, mischievous, or whimsical.

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jE/Doyon
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Subjects
Genres
Children's stories
Picture books
Published
New York : Lee & Low Books Inc [2021]
Language
English
Main Author
Samara Cole Doyon (author)
Other Authors
Geneva Bowers (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
32 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 27 cm
Audience
Ages 5-8.
Grades 2-3.
ISBN
9781643790701
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

This picture book celebrates the beauty and strength of Black hair, presenting it as a symbol of empowerment for young people. Doyon's poetic prose showcases the realities of having textured hair, the work that goes into styling and caring for it, and the payoff as its "majestic," "mischievous," and "stunning" nature reveals its versatility and natural beauty. In partnership with the gorgeous digital artwork from Bowers, each double-page spread sees the protagonist enjoying her hair in a new location and situation, further supporting the statement that Black hair is an asset to everyday life. With its poetic message and gentle, inviting illustrations, this book reminds readers that Black hair is an individual experience that should be cherished and appreciated, that no one's hair is the same. The joy of different colors, textures, and styles shines through here and is sure to inspire confidence and creativity in young readers becoming acquainted with their hair and self-expression.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Framed by a bespectacled Black mother doing her dark-skinned child's hair, this affirming series of lyrical vignettes draws immersive parallels between a Black child's varying hairstyles and myriad elements from nature: on each spread, her hair is variously compared to "regal pine trees," "a million ocean currents," "a bouquet of hydrangea blossoms," and more. Doyon's deservedly confident narrator employs a wealth of sensory and figurative language to describe her changing hairdos: "Piled high, it gathers together/ like billowing thunderclouds/ threatening to break loose in a sudden storm,/ releasing a cascade of relief and revival./ My hair is fresh like that." A satisfying final-act turn reveals how the child can be anything, the hairstyles representing a queen, an explorer, a warrior. Bowers augments the text with vibrant digital spreads, centering close-ups of the smiling figure amid bright, expansive landscapes. Readers will revel in this glorious celebration of Black hair. Ages 5--8. (Sept.)

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