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< Picture Books Library
Little Parachutes Gold Star Winner
Categories: Being Different & Being Yourself, Confidence & Self-esteem, Haircuts & Hair Care, Kindness, Non-traditional Families

Hair Love

A positive story of how a father and daughter work together to create the perfect hairstyle for a very special day. There are many helpful messages within which could apply to a child who is dealing with an absent or ill parent, or who is simply finding it hard not to give up on a challenging task.
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Hair Love

Author: Matthew A. Cherry
Illustrator: Vashti Harrison
Publisher: Puffin

“I love that my hair lets me be me!”

Zuri knows her thick afro hair is beautiful, and that ‘it has a mind of its own / it kinks and coils every which way’. Styling it in different ways makes her feel proud, strong and pretty. She wakes up on a particularly ‘special day’ with plans to recreate an ambitious hairstyle she finds on the internet. Keen not to wake Daddy, who has been ‘worn out’ of late, she creeps about considerately, but in the end she needs his assistance….although they both discover it’s not as easy as it looks in the tutorial. Daddy’s first few (rather wonky) attempts are firmly rejected as not special enough. Tears are shed, but the close-knit pair come up with a plan, show some determination and patience, and the final style is spectacular! The story concludes with a reveal of what makes the day so special: Mummy is coming home! The family embrace and Mummy says Zuri is ‘the prettiest supergirl’ she’s ever seen. 

There is so much to like about this positive picture book. Featuring a black family (who are frustratingly under-represented in picture books), illustrator Vashti Harrison has captured the emotions and character of the protagonist and her father perfectly: their frustrations, struggles and ambitions are realistic, endearing and absorbing, and she is, of course, brilliant at drawing hair! Zuri obviously  adores her dreadlocked, tattoed Daddy, and the feeling is mutual….hats off to him for his bottomless supply of patience and optimism. The story is a perfect testament to how much confidence and strength a child can draw from loving and gentle parenting. A really entertaining and encouraging book to share with any child, regardless of their situation, origin or character. 

This video link is provided to help an adult assess the book's suitability for a child's situation before purchasing it. It has been filmed by a third party and hosted on YouTube and is not made by Little Parachutes. More info

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

  • The online world may sometimes set unrealistic expectations. Zuri is upset when her attempts to style her own hair aren’t as perfect as in the internet tutorial she watches.
  • It has been tiring for Daddy as he’s been looking after Zuri on his own for a while. 

Guidance:

  • Look for the positives in every situation. Despite the challenges Zuri faces when trying to style her thickly textured afro hair, she describes it positively (‘my hair even does magic tricks / in two puffs I am above the clouds like a superhero’)
  • If at first you don’t succeed, try again! When things aren’t going the right way, Zuri and her father come up with a plan and work together to bring it to fruition. 

Hope & Inspiration:

  • Daddy’s patience and tenacity eventually pays off and he styles Zuri’s hair to her liking. 
  • Zuri shows empathy: she notices how hard her Daddy is working and how tired he is (taking on extra work while her Mummy is away) and she tries to stay quiet and help out. 
  • Mummy returns home and the family are reunited. 
  • Zuri is so proud of her hair and is confident and happy in her own skin.
Worth noting:

The reason for Mummy’s absence isn’t specified in the story. She’s depicted wearing a headscarf which may imply that she’s been having cancer treatment, but she could equally have been away on a work trip, holiday, etc. There is also a short (Oscar-winning) animation of ‘Hair Love’ that reveals that Mummy has been in hospital and has lost her hair. 

This book was kindly donated by one of our generous supporters. Find out ways you can support the project here

Review by: Claire Ward-Dutton

Categories: Being Different & Being Yourself, Confidence & Self-esteem, Haircuts & Hair Care, Kindness, Non-traditional Families
Tags: co-operation, confidence, diversity, father, mother, persistence



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What is a Parachute Book?

A challenging experience can make a young child feel as if they are in emotional free fall. As a parent, you can’t stop them falling, but you can offer them a softer landing:
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The information provided on the Little Parachutes website is not a substitute for professional care by a qualified practitioner, and is not intended to provide medical advice. If you are concerned about the health and wellbeing of yourself or children in your care, you should always consult an appropriate healthcare professional.