Review by Booklist Review
In this vibrant, heartfelt ode to the beauty and diversity of Black hair, Weatherford's rhyming text takes young readers on an educational and celebratory journey through various textures, styles, and care routines associated with natural hair. The book features a rich tapestry of women and girls, showcasing their unique hairstyles in different scenarios and contexts, emphasizing the cultural significance and pride that comes with textured hair. Weatherford's lyrical writing is engaging, accessible, and brimming with pride--qualities reflected in Holmes' arresting artwork. Bold, blocky paper cutouts fill the pages with bright colors and simplistic details, creating a visually appealing experience for young readers. The illustrations not only capture the beauty and diversity of the hairstyles but also the joy and confidence of the characters, further reinforcing the book's celebratory tone. The inclusion of a hair glossary is particularly thoughtful, providing readers with definitions and explanations for any unfamiliar terms encountered throughout the story. This component enhances the book, offering possibilities for deeper understanding and appreciation of Black hair culture. A treasure trove of culture, education, and empowerment.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Boston Weatherford (Bros) pens a lyrical ode dedicated to the CROWN Act movement in this visually stunning celebration of African hair and heritage. The work begins, per back matter, with a reference to Black women holding the titles of five beauty pageants in 2019: "the sun was proudly beaming down/ on Africa's daughters, all wearing crowns./ Five queens from around the world/ rocking afros and flowing curls." A page turn later, lines convey the idea that "we don't need pageants to declare our reigns./ Majesty is woven into our manes," and rhyming text underscores Black hair as a display of autonomy and strength: "Our hair is frizzy, strong and free,/ with roots as deep as an Ebony tree.// Cornrows forming complex patterns:/ zigzags, curves, or rings like Saturn's." With depth and vibrancy, mixed-media collage and acrylic artwork from Holmes (Dream Street) leans into portraiture, highlighting hairstyles and textures that emphasize the beauty and diversity of Black hair and culture. A final spread underscores a theme of connection across time: "A ritual of hand and heart,/ each stunning head a work of art./ Each royal coil coaxed by kin./ Each strand a story without end." Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A glossary of highlighted hairstyles concludes. Ages 7--10. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two acclaimed creators have teamed up for an unqualified and unapologetic ode to Black hair. An opening double-page spread of colorful planets, aligned in a star-spangled night sky, is followed by a depiction of Black women wearing crowns and beaming. (The backmatter explains that in 2019, Black women all over the world "made history as the titleholders of five major beauty pageants.") In rhyming verse, Weatherford pays tribute to the textures, styles, and intricate patterns of Black hair, as well as adornments, coverings, and products used to care for it. Metaphors and similes abound ("Like waterfalls, our hair cascades," "each strand a story without end"). Accompanying Weatherford's potent words, Holmes' stunning collage illustrations, in a plethora of textures, colors, and patterns, accentuate characters' beautiful brown skin. Many scenes highlight the important role that hair care plays in bringing Black women and girls together, including a depiction of a dark-skinned mother reading a story to her baby; both sport matching Afros, with a bright yellow sunflower adorning each head. An especially striking image depicts a rainy day, bathed in blues and purples, with three women wearing a hijab, a headwrap, and a gele and carrying yellow and orange patchwork umbrellas, alongside a woman wearing a patchwork wide-brimmed hat--a stirring tribute to Black women's beauty and verve. A breathtakingly gorgeous book that no reader should be without. (glossary)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
