I Love My Hair!

Title: "I Love My Hair!"
Author: Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
Illustrator: E.B. Lewis

"I Love My Hair", by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley is a book for children ages 3 - 8 years old. This book is about an African American girl named Keyana and the many different ways she can wear her hair. Throughout the story we see Keyana style her hair in many ways, but also be teased for her hair. She is able to overcome her peers teasing, accepting her hair and the various characteristics her hair can hold.

"I Love My Hair" is a beautifully written and painted book that exposes children to the idea of self-love and acceptance. This book is more than just hair styles on a young girl. This story is about learning to love the hair she was born with, even when peers put her down.
In this book, Keyana teaches a valuable lesson that even though her peers may tease her, she can overcome and love herself. In the end, she is happy with her numerous hairstyles because she appreciates what she looks like as part of her own identity. The illustrations in this book show the numerous hairstyles, but emphasizes the expressions on Keyana's face. The watercolor paintings are realistic and easy for children to relate to.

In my future classroom I would read this text aloud because it promotes the idea that everyone may look different but, it is important to be accepting of others. In this story, she is teased but a teacher comforts her and gives her background knowledge about African American hair. In my classroom I would want to promote different cultural hairstyles, traditions and clothing. I would encourage my students to talk with each other about their own family traditions including the food they eat, hair styles, clothing, holidays and many other diverse aspects. Another idea to promote the idea of self-love and knowledge would be to have students draw themselves and what they like about themselves. I would hang these up to promote positive self esteem. By discussing these different customs and seeing portraits of peers, each of my students can feel comfortable and appreciate how they look.

Click here to purchase "I Like My Hair"
Click here to review a Scholastic Lesson Plan

-Ellen Chapin