Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A brown-skinned girl relays the hair routines of her long-haired Sikh father and herself in this bouncy picture book by Mirchandani, inspired by her husband and daughter. Parts of the maintenance process are highlighted in accessible figurative language: "He brushes my hair like he does his own, splitting it down the middle, like a river separating two enchanted forests," one spread reads, as the child's hair is visualized as flowing watercolor waves. Other pages maintain the earnest, kid-friendly first-person perspective: " 'Hair cheers!' I tell him," one page reads; the daughter playfully knocks her joora against her bearded father's. Digitally collaged illustrations in a colorful cartoon style by Hatam spotlight a cast with a range of abilities, hair textures, religions, and skin tones. A sweet read that epitomizes a compassionate bond between parent and child. Back matter features an author's note and a photo of the book's inspiration. Ages 4--8. (May)
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Review by Horn Book Review
In this playful and affectionate story, a Sikh father lovingly cares for his daughter's long, wavy hair every morning, combing, detangling, and styling her strands into braids and buns. When Papa fixes the girl's hair into a tight bun at the top of her head, it reminds her of his own joora, and she proclaims that they are hair twins. The two joyfully tap their matching buns together while proclaiming, "hair cheers!" A six-image sequence shows Papa putting his long hair into a joora, then a patka (cloth covering), and finally a turban. The girl eagerly assists him, always ready with a rubber band or even a toothbrush for beard brushing. Cheerful digital illustrations capture the realistic details of hair care combined with the more whimsical or metaphorical, as the girl's hair is shown as an ocean or a harp. An appended note explains that the book is based on the author's husband and child. A loving portrayal of a father-daughter bond that is strengthened over daily hair care, something that honors the characters' religion while nurturing their relationship. Julie Hakim Azzam September/October 2021 p.76(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this book, an unnamed Sikh girl describes the way she and her father take care of their hair. In accordance with Sikh tradition, the narrator and her father both wear their dark hair long. The narrator describes how her father helps her comb her hair, using coconut oil to detangle it. Some days, she says, he plaits her hair into two long braids just like her grandmother's. Other days, he twists it into a bun that matches his own, and the two become the titular "hair twins." When the protagonist comes home from school, she lets her hair out and dances with her father, enjoying her long, free tresses. Afterward, the father ties the girl's hair into one long braid while he ties a turban on his head. The story ends with the girl and her father going to the park to meet the girl's friends and their families, all of whom have their own varied hairstyles and family structures--a conclusion that reinforces the book's celebration of all types of hair, bodies, and people. Hatam's illustrations are both child friendly and clever, incorporating symbolism from the text into fanciful pictures that burst with pride and joy. The lyrical text is both accessible and poetic, and the narratorial voice has a sincerity and enthusiasm that make it a delight to read. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.6 % of actual size.) A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
