I Love My Hair!

Every night before she goes to bed, Keyana’s mother combs her hair. Though Mama is always gentle, sometimes getting her hair combed still hurts! To soothe her hurting places, Mama tells Keyana why she’s so lucky to have her head of hair and explores with her all the wonderful styles that she can wear. This imaginative story is a celebration of the special relationship between mother and daughter, as well as the qualities that make each of us unique and beautiful. Available in a board book edition.

Praise for I Love My Hair!

“I Love My Hair! (Little, Brown) is a tender tribute to African hair and the bond formed between mother and daughter through the rituals of combing, parting, oiling, and braiding. . . Natasha Tarpley’s book attests to the rich heritage passed from one generation to another. E.B. Lewis’s soft watercolor illustrations perfectly accompany this sweet story of self-acceptance, empowerment, and hope.”
— Adoptive Families Magazine

“In this gracefully told story, a young African-American heroine celebrates her lovely head of hair as part of her heritage.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Pre-School-Grade 2: A young African-American girl describes the familiar mother-daughter nightly ritual of combing the tangles out of her hair. When she cries because it hurts, her sympathetic mother tells her how lucky she is to have such beautiful hair. Imaginatively, the woman goes on to say that she can spin it into a fine, soft bun or “plant rows of braids” along her scalp, prompting her daughter to think of other wonderful things she likes about her hair. The superb watercolor illustrations move from the intimacy and security of Keyana’s bedroom to the neighborhood streets and finally to the whole world as her mother’s imagery becomes reflected in the art. Keyana’s hair is spun on a spinning wheel, becomes part of rows of plants in a garden, and merges with a globe of the whole world. The child’s favorite style, however, is two ponytails that flap like wings on each side of her head, and the final picture is of Keyana triumphantly flying free against the blue sky. Pictures and text reflect the expanding horizons of the child’s world as she learns to be proud of her distinctive hair and her heritage. . . A very special book about self-acceptance.”
— School Library Journal

A Black Caucus American Library Association Top Recommended Book