Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With lyrical, simile-studded prose and crisp, radiant illustrations, Brown-Wood and Robinson craft a powerful portrait of Black hair as artistry, inheritance, and pride. After establishing that "this hair/ grew/ from the scalps of kings and queens," comparative lines liken waves, spirals, and curls to African landscapes, including "rivers that span Africa's grand land"; winds blowing sands in the Namib, Kalahari, and Sahara deserts; and the albuca plant. Locks' arrayed traits are described next in text that references ancestors' actions and experiences ("While it may tangle, tangle it is told that this hair hid grains and seeds later planted to grow and fill our ancestors' bellies"). Textural jewel-toned visuals portray Black hair as both crown and connection across time: "This hair belongs in the past, the now, the future, in the real and the imagined, in the myth and in the legend." Includes an author's note and contextualizing back matter. Ages 4--8. (Jan.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
In a society where African American children's hair is often deemed unacceptable, Brown-Wood (Shhh! The Baby's Asleep, rev. 7/21) provides affirmation: "This hair / is who we are. / We are / Black / and / Beautiful / and / Proud. / And our hair is magic." Robinson's (illustrator of Giovanni's A Library, rev. 9/22) intriguing art showcases various Black hairstyles, sometimes featuring them on mythical figures. The collage-like illustrations are flush with color, patterns, and movement; the human figures stand proudly and regally. The lyrical, imaginative narrative, rich with simile and metaphor, emphasizes ties to Africa, comparing the properties of Black hair to the continent's natural resources; e.g., it "shrinks / like the unspun cotton of kente," it waves like rivers, and it "curls / like the corkscrew albuca" (a South African plant). The empowering text also points to ways Black women used their hair to help escape enslavement: they hid seeds in the thick strands to plant on free soil, and they conveyed messages about freedom through cornrow designs. An author's note covers Brown-Wood's own journey to loving her natural hair and touches on the CROWN Act, a law prohibiting hair-based discrimination; additional information about references in the text and art is also appended. See also Hairstory by Martins on page 84 in this issue. marva anne hintonMarch/April 2026 p.45 (c) Copyright 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
An ode to natural Black hair and those who have the honor of wearing it. "This hair" does, and has done, many things, according to Brown-Wood's poetic text. It has grown from the heads of kings and queens; it shrinks, it waves ("like rivers that span Africa's grand lands"), it curls, and it stretches ("like the banks of the Nile"). "This hair" is thick; it "may tangle," and it "might stick out"--but it is beautiful, it is magic, and it belongs. It belongs in reality, and it belongs in legend, and it is "not for the faint of heart." Neither Brown-Wood's text nor Robinson's art tells a single story here: Both are busy immersing readers in a rich tapestry of Black history and culture through rhythmic spoken word and layered, detailed art showcasing lush colors, gorgeous patterns, and an incredible variety of hairstyles. The verse goes straight to the heart, where it takes up residence, while the illustrations offer a loving display of the inheritance of Black hair. At crucial moments, the text highlights "you," the child reader, enveloping young people in a sense of belonging and pride, inspiring them to understand their relationship with their hair in new and exciting ways. Backmatter offers details about African history and cultures, hair, and hair care. Myriad books have explored Black hair; this one is among the very best. This testament to Black beauty is destined to be a classic and a favorite; everyone needs this book. (author's note)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
