Natasha Anastasia Tarpley's, I Love My Hair! a children's book, combines an easy-to-read text with colorful illustrations by E.B. Lewis. This is a special book about self-acceptance. In this gracefully told story, a young African-American heroine celebrates her lovely head of hair as part of her heritage.
The text represents the first-person reflections of a little Black girl named Keyana. After describing the hair care ritual she goes through with her mother she reflects on the different styles in which natural hair may be worn, like Afro, cornrows or a bun. Keyana's hair styling sessions are also a time of mother-daughter bonding.
Keyana finds the combat sessions with her hair quite painful. Her wise mother tells her why she is lucky to have such beautiful, thick, naturally curly hair. As she rubs coconut oil into her scalp to help the comb glide through it, she adds rich poetic descriptions to Keyana's hair. Keyana celebrates her natural beauty and hair and takes pride in the myriad of hairstyles her thick, curly hair will allow her to try.
This is a book all parents and educators will want to use to promote self esteem among all children. This is an especially empowering book for Black girls, but the imaginative elements in the book also make it good for a broader audience.
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