My hair grows like a tree is a beautiful reading and activity book geared towards young girls between the ages of 7-13.
The
author uses visual imagery of all natural shapes and sizes and captures the
positive message of growth, individuality and self love. All revolving
around the theme of unique hair and nature.
In this book, the reader is encouraged to
not just read about hair but to evaluate it in an up close and personal way. The writer does not stop at self evaluation but encourages the reader to notice that of the
people around them. They are prompted to research, ask questions and
conduct detailed observations through arts and crafts. As a result, the reading experience seeps past the pages and engaging all of the senses, as one is urged to be hands on, to always be listening, seeing and learning.
The book
contains numerous hair styles on girls of varying skin tones and every
hair type is celebrated from the high hair styles that are said to be tree like in
shape to the low hair styles that are likened to lush grass.
The book also includes numerous examples both through pictures and line
sketches of rich fruit of different shapes and sizes in an effort to
underscore the message of individuality. Also
included are original author sketches and encouragement for the reader to make
sketches of their very own, based on their own observation, so that the
learning process is set to work through action.
It is evident this book urges those reading to explore learning, the world around them and the
individuality within them, through this book's pages. Pages that provide themselves, as a vehicle of
representation.
At
it's end it encourages readers to see meaning behind the way a person's
hair is warn even in different cultures and ethnicities and it goes on to
share some information on strong female rulers of colour that have reigned through out
history.
At it's core this book is a positively worded and
proactive approach to body image and cultural representation. It pairs
learning with numerous activities that will allow knowledge to stick
around past the time spent between the books covers. It encourages
exploration of the world around us and the world of ability, wealth and
value within us all.
Every young girl of colour should be
fortunate enough to get their hands on this book or at the very least one like it that celebrates facets
of their life often under negative scrutiny. Then, they can be exposed instead to positive and impacting self examination in a way that encourages collaboration between the old and the young as Tamika Phillip does in her book
My Hair Grows Like A Tree.
Thank you
so much to the author for this review copy! Be sure to add her book
to your to be read list on goodreads or pick up a copy at the House of Chocolate if you so see fit! If you're interested in sending me an ARC of your up coming release for an honest review, feel free to contact me on any of my social media or via email.
If you could liken your hair to anything what would it be? I think I've always likened my hair more to puffer fish, beautiful but a stealthy changer upper on me before I know it haha
Peace. Love. Healthy Hair~
both photos in this post by: Arthur Daniel
