Salon Saturday

PreS-Gr 2--A showcase for the importance of a young Black girl's first trip to the hair salon. The unnamed narrator opens the book by announcing "Today is the BIG day" with a giant smile and one golden star in her hair as her grandma, momma, and sissy, all with various colorful hairstyles, walk with her through city streets and on to a bus to reach the Bubblegum Hair Salon. While on the bus, she notices the wide variety of hairstyles on passersby, including bobs, buns, coils, 'fros, locs, puffs, twists, and spirals, and muses that each person is uniquely beautiful while wondering "What is my kind of beautiful?" Bright illustrations show even more hairstyles in the salon, where the young girl gets her hair washed and sits under the dryer. One spread displays five close-ups of her head and the steps from "part" to "spritz" until the final reveal, where she looks in the mirror to see her new hairstyle with multiple gold stars. While serving as a helpful primer for children to learn about this first experience, the book also celebrates community, family, and self-love. VERDICT A joyful celebration of both individuality and community, and a great purchase for public libraries, preschools, and lower elementary schools.--Carrie Voliva

A Black girl chooses a hairstyle. The unnamed young narrator's grandmother, mother, and big sister go to the salon every Saturday, and today the protagonist is joining them for the first time. As they head down the street and board the bus, she worries about selecting the right style. The people on the street have their own unique 'dos, as do the women in her family; they each have advice on how to decide ("Think about ease," advises Momma, while Sissy says, "Think about personality"). "What is my kind of beautiful?" wonders the protagonist. After a tingly shampoo and a spell under the hair dryer, she's inspired by her loved ones and makes her decision before happily joining "the parade of styles marching down the street." While the story structure feels a bit formulaic, the relationships are warmly and thoughtfully portrayed; this is a joyful depiction of a milestone in a child's life. Reminiscent of animation, Kristensen's illustrations use abstract settings and spot art to showcase different hairdos. The combination of bright colors and pastels gives the setting an eclectic appearance. An upbeat introduction to a beloved rite of passage.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.