Grandma's Hair Is Ankle Length/ El cabello de Abuela le llega hasta los tobillos

by Adriana Camacho-Church, Carmen Lop (Illustrator)

In this poetic ode to grandmothers, a young girl likens her abuela’s long hair to strength, security and understanding. The black strands speak of “finding courage in the unknown,” while the white ones represent wisdom and hope.

Camacho-Church evokes the natural world with references to creatures such as owls and dragonflies, plants like roses and wildflowers, and sunlight, the moon and waterfalls. The girl wonders if her own hair will one day tell stories, and her grandmother assures her it already “holds the whispers of her ancestors.”

With stunningly beautiful illustrations by Carmen Lop that depict a loving intergenerational relationship playing out against the backdrop of nature, this bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8 confirms both the importance of the world in which we live and the love between an elder and a child. “Grandma and I hug, and our hair flows together as one.”

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 31, 2024

Reviews

[kate.]

love the concept but the illustrations were so strange

[Misty Autumn]

Gorgeous, stunning, dreamlike. A lovely tale made even better with superb illustrations. This would be a lovely gift for any child and is a great way to spend story time.

[Lisa Burris]

In Grandma’s Hair is Ankle Length, the latest bilingual picture book by author Adriana Camacho-Church, a little girl finds a world in her grandmother’s long, luxurious hair. As the girl admires her grandma’s hair, she compares it to the natural world: Grandma’s hair is a waterfall and the space between stars. It is as ancient as the moon, but also captures the radiance and delicacy of dragonfly wings. Grandma’s hair contains the knowledge and stories of the ancestors and, what’s more, this heritage will be passed on to the little girl, who wonders if her own hair also holds these mysteries.

The gorgeous illustrations by Mexican artist Carmen Lop incorporate not only the beauty of nature, but also indigenous Latinx imagery, such as figures of an ancient Jaguar warrior or a girl in native Colombian dress. Lop’s vivid, lush drawings bring Camacho-Church’s poetic language to life. As you read the book to little ones, make sure to look for the dragonflies throughout, as they are particularly meaningful to the author.

[Linda Gould]

I've read two of Camacho-Church's children's books and am so impressed with how she speaks to her audience. Though they are children's books, they aren't childish. The character in this story is wise and thoughtful, open and honest. The story treats the young reader with the presumption that the reader can understand complicated ideas and thoughts. Nothing is spelled out; rather, ideas are stated and offer the reader the opportunity to interpret.

Grandma's Hair is Ankle Length is respectful and sophisticated. It isn't poetry, but it is poetic. And the illustrations reflect that.

I love this story.

[Kyra Carmack]

This book is a wonderfully lyrical book that portrays the deep bonds one can have with a grandparent. This is a bilingual book with lovely illustrations and a message of comfort and security. It shows how generational lessons can be passed down and empower a younger generation. This book also encapsulates the beauty of aging and the wisdom and strength that comes with it. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all ages and I highly recommend this picture book!

[Margaret]

Adriana's books are an essential choice for library collections. There is a gap in the choices for beautiful books dealing with loss and grief. This book is comforting and opens a world of love and understanding of loss. As a children's librarian who developed collections of social and emotional books, I am delighted to find this book available.

[Laurie Carmody]

This bilingual book celebrating the bond between a grandma and her granddaughter is told in a gentle, lyrical tone. Coupled with gorgeous illustrations, children of all ages will find comfort in this lovely relationship and how they find shared meaning in Grandma's ankle length hair.

[Carina]

This precious book invites into a magical world of its own.

I enjoy reading this book again and again. I love the beautifully illustrated pages. Every time I open the book, I discover another enchanting detail. The uplifting messages of connectedness touch my heart and nurture my soul.

[Emily David]

Beautiful!