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Hair Love
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2019)When mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to do his daughter’s hair in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters from former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestseller Vashti Harrison.
Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When mommy does Zuri’s hair, she feels like a superhero. But when mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to step in! And even though daddy has a lot to learn, he LOVES his Zuri. And he’ll do anything to make her—and her hair—happy.
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair—and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
Zuri’s hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it’s beautiful. When mommy does Zuri’s hair, she feels like a superhero. But when mommy is away, it’s up to daddy to step in! And even though daddy has a lot to learn, he LOVES his Zuri. And he’ll do anything to make her—and her hair—happy.
Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair—and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
About the author
Matthew A. Cherry
6 books110 followersMatthew A. Cherry is an American film director, writer, producer, and former American football player. He wrote and directed two independent films, The Last Fall, and 9 Rides, and is currently an executive at Monkeypaw Productions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,754 reviews
April 3, 2026
In a Nutshell: An adorable picture book about a little girl and her father indulging in some genuine hair love. Great characters, sweet story, fabulous illustrations. One part of the story could be interpreted in multiple ways, so there's flexibility. Much recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Note: This review contains plot spoilers, but it's just a picture book, so I hope you'll pardon the reveals.
I had first heard of this story not as a book but as a movie that won the Best Animated Short Film at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2019. I found the movie really cute, but it's only after all these years that I could finally read the picture book (also released in 2019 a few months before the movie.) No surprises, it's equally sweet.
Most people seem fascinated by straight hair, but I've always loved curls. As such, if there's any book that advocates curl love (and there are quite a few of them these days!), I love to get my hands on it. This zeal has resulted in my finding some lovely books on accepting and loving your curls. But ‘Hair Love’ stands out in this category for various wonderful reasons.
For one, Zuri isn't shown struggling to accept her curly hair the way most protagonists with curly hair do. Rather, she's proud of it for letting her be herself, and loves experimenting with funky hairstyles. I adore her self-confidence!
Further, Zuri's father is the one making the hairstyle she wants. It's a great way of showing dads that bonding over hair needn't be a mother-daughter thing. The fact that Zuri's dad is sketched as a manly man with tattoos and dreadlocks highlights how his masculinity isn't frail enough to be insecure about combing his daughter's hair.
One part where the book differs significantly from the movie is in the interpretation of the "special day". The movie shows Zuri and her father visiting her mother in a hospital room, where she is sitting in a wheelchair and waiting for them to take her home. Her head is covered in a scarf, and when she removes it, we see that she's completely bald, possibly as a result of chemotherapy. The book doesn't specify the reason for Mummy's absence from home. She returns home by herself, no hospital visit involved. And while her head is covered with a scarf and her eyes look sunken, the reason for her absence isn't specified. So it could be attributed to anything, making the book more flexible and wider in reach than the movie.
At the same time, the sudden jump in direction, more noticeable in the movie but also indirectly visible in the book, is surprising. Until that point, all we think is that we are reading a book about hair and loving your hair and accepting it with all its kinks. But with the focus shifting to Mummy’s return in the finale, it felt like the book aimed for one destination but ended somewhere else altogether. The book still manages to insert the ‘hair’ idea into the ending, but it felt a little forced.
The story is written in simple text, with only a few lines per page. This makes the book a wonderful option for ages 5 to 7. The story can be read to younger children as well, but there's a lot happening behind the scenes but not explicitly mentioned in the text (such as why Zuri's dad is more tired lately.) This might come out better through discussions.
The illustrations are outstanding. Every single page highlights little Zuri's zest for life, her love for her father, and her passion for getting her hair right. And her hair is truly so adorable! The colouring is in lovely pastel shades against a white background – perfect!
Can't forget to mention Rocky the cat, Zuri's sidekick and equally loveable.
Overall, this was one beautiful storybook doing exactly what the tagline promises: "a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere."
Definitely recommended. This book is a great option for homes as well as classrooms for topics of self-acceptance, body image, and of course, hair love.
4.25 stars.
Fun fact: The author is a former NFL player! 🏈
You can watch the Oscar-winning short film legally using this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Zuri has "hair with a mind of its own". Every day, her Daddy helps her style it whatever way she wants, and she always loves his efforts. But today is an important day, and she wants her hair to look extra-special. Nothing Daddy creates looks outstanding. Will the duo be able to figure out a creative hairstyle before a special someone comes home?
The story comes to us in Zuri's first-person perspective.
Note: This review contains plot spoilers, but it's just a picture book, so I hope you'll pardon the reveals.
I had first heard of this story not as a book but as a movie that won the Best Animated Short Film at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2019. I found the movie really cute, but it's only after all these years that I could finally read the picture book (also released in 2019 a few months before the movie.) No surprises, it's equally sweet.
Most people seem fascinated by straight hair, but I've always loved curls. As such, if there's any book that advocates curl love (and there are quite a few of them these days!), I love to get my hands on it. This zeal has resulted in my finding some lovely books on accepting and loving your curls. But ‘Hair Love’ stands out in this category for various wonderful reasons.
For one, Zuri isn't shown struggling to accept her curly hair the way most protagonists with curly hair do. Rather, she's proud of it for letting her be herself, and loves experimenting with funky hairstyles. I adore her self-confidence!
Further, Zuri's father is the one making the hairstyle she wants. It's a great way of showing dads that bonding over hair needn't be a mother-daughter thing. The fact that Zuri's dad is sketched as a manly man with tattoos and dreadlocks highlights how his masculinity isn't frail enough to be insecure about combing his daughter's hair.
One part where the book differs significantly from the movie is in the interpretation of the "special day". The movie shows Zuri and her father visiting her mother in a hospital room, where she is sitting in a wheelchair and waiting for them to take her home. Her head is covered in a scarf, and when she removes it, we see that she's completely bald, possibly as a result of chemotherapy. The book doesn't specify the reason for Mummy's absence from home. She returns home by herself, no hospital visit involved. And while her head is covered with a scarf and her eyes look sunken, the reason for her absence isn't specified. So it could be attributed to anything, making the book more flexible and wider in reach than the movie.
At the same time, the sudden jump in direction, more noticeable in the movie but also indirectly visible in the book, is surprising. Until that point, all we think is that we are reading a book about hair and loving your hair and accepting it with all its kinks. But with the focus shifting to Mummy’s return in the finale, it felt like the book aimed for one destination but ended somewhere else altogether. The book still manages to insert the ‘hair’ idea into the ending, but it felt a little forced.
The story is written in simple text, with only a few lines per page. This makes the book a wonderful option for ages 5 to 7. The story can be read to younger children as well, but there's a lot happening behind the scenes but not explicitly mentioned in the text (such as why Zuri's dad is more tired lately.) This might come out better through discussions.
The illustrations are outstanding. Every single page highlights little Zuri's zest for life, her love for her father, and her passion for getting her hair right. And her hair is truly so adorable! The colouring is in lovely pastel shades against a white background – perfect!
Can't forget to mention Rocky the cat, Zuri's sidekick and equally loveable.
Overall, this was one beautiful storybook doing exactly what the tagline promises: "a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere."
Definitely recommended. This book is a great option for homes as well as classrooms for topics of self-acceptance, body image, and of course, hair love.
4.25 stars.
Fun fact: The author is a former NFL player! 🏈
You can watch the Oscar-winning short film legally using this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
October 23, 2020
I absolutely love this book, and so do my kids. This book has exactly the message I wish I had had as a child. I’m so glad it exists.
February 10, 2020
Good for Matthew Cherry, former NFL football player, whose animated version of this picture book was just awarded Best Animated Short, at the 2020 Academy Awards!
My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. This is book #15 (of more than 20) of 2019, and we thought it was sweet. The tale is a father-daughter story, where he tries (for the first time) to help his daughter get her hair the way she wants it. Mom walks in at the end, her own hair covered (without explanation, so we discussed whether she might be coming home from the hospital, or something).
Lyra (12) 3.5. Cute and simple, about a hard-working family letting their daughter express herself as she pleases [is this a message to Lyra's parents?! Hey! Be yourself, girl!] 👧. Sweet story, sweet art. Not my favorite book, but heart-warming and adorable and legit.
Hank (13): 3. ZYeah, liked it!
Harry (14): 4. I like how the dad is always trying to make his daughter happy and give her the best hairstyle for her.
Tara: 4. Way better than I expected. I figured it early on to be a "be proud of what you were born with" sort of thing, which it kind of is, but it's also about a helpful dad, a mom (probably) coming home from the hospital, and the hair stuff was really cool.
Dave: 4. Sweet dad-daughter story. Dad's already a "body art" guy as he has dreads and tattoos and seems muscled, so he is supportive for sure of body and hair style as self-expression. My idea is that when mom comes home, approving of all this beauty before her, she has her head covered, as she has lost her hair through chemo, so adds that layer, but it doesn't have to be seen that way, either. Just food for discussion. I liked it pretty well, the dreamy swirling art by Vashti Harrison matching the hairstyles as central to this one.
My family reads all the Goodreads-award-nominated picture books every year. This is book #15 (of more than 20) of 2019, and we thought it was sweet. The tale is a father-daughter story, where he tries (for the first time) to help his daughter get her hair the way she wants it. Mom walks in at the end, her own hair covered (without explanation, so we discussed whether she might be coming home from the hospital, or something).
Lyra (12) 3.5. Cute and simple, about a hard-working family letting their daughter express herself as she pleases [is this a message to Lyra's parents?! Hey! Be yourself, girl!] 👧. Sweet story, sweet art. Not my favorite book, but heart-warming and adorable and legit.
Hank (13): 3. ZYeah, liked it!
Harry (14): 4. I like how the dad is always trying to make his daughter happy and give her the best hairstyle for her.
Tara: 4. Way better than I expected. I figured it early on to be a "be proud of what you were born with" sort of thing, which it kind of is, but it's also about a helpful dad, a mom (probably) coming home from the hospital, and the hair stuff was really cool.
Dave: 4. Sweet dad-daughter story. Dad's already a "body art" guy as he has dreads and tattoos and seems muscled, so he is supportive for sure of body and hair style as self-expression. My idea is that when mom comes home, approving of all this beauty before her, she has her head covered, as she has lost her hair through chemo, so adds that layer, but it doesn't have to be seen that way, either. Just food for discussion. I liked it pretty well, the dreamy swirling art by Vashti Harrison matching the hairstyles as central to this one.
December 11, 2019
This story hit home with me. I love it. When I was younger my hair was much more wild and difficult to tame and keep in check. It was curly and kinky and a whole lot of fun. I did love it. As I have aged, I have lost the kink and many of the curls and my hair is easy to tame know. I still love my hair, but I miss the volume I used to have.
This little girl has some great hair. She loves to shape it into different ways depending on what she is doing and how she feels. She can put it in puffs and be a superhero, or she can braid it and have a fancy tea party. She loves her wonderful hair and her family has what they call hair love. Her dad is amazing and he can help her style her hair. She is trying to get the perfect shape for her mommy. They figure it out in time and it’s perfect.
I find this a sweet little story of family love. The artwork is wonderful and a hint of magic dust thrown in. It’s perfect for who I am as a reader and fan.
My nephew is not into the magical realism that I love so much. This was just a girl and it was all about hair, no monster, no robots, no potty humor. Now, my nephew has some great hair too. He likes to leave it a little long and he gets this Einstein look. I love it. Now, his daddy doesn’t and he always likes to chop it off. I am with the nephew and I like that wild look. It goes with his personality. But, that was not enough for my nephew to connect with the characters. He gave the story 2 stars. He might not like them, but I have to keep trying new things with him.
This little girl has some great hair. She loves to shape it into different ways depending on what she is doing and how she feels. She can put it in puffs and be a superhero, or she can braid it and have a fancy tea party. She loves her wonderful hair and her family has what they call hair love. Her dad is amazing and he can help her style her hair. She is trying to get the perfect shape for her mommy. They figure it out in time and it’s perfect.
I find this a sweet little story of family love. The artwork is wonderful and a hint of magic dust thrown in. It’s perfect for who I am as a reader and fan.
My nephew is not into the magical realism that I love so much. This was just a girl and it was all about hair, no monster, no robots, no potty humor. Now, my nephew has some great hair too. He likes to leave it a little long and he gets this Einstein look. I love it. Now, his daddy doesn’t and he always likes to chop it off. I am with the nephew and I like that wild look. It goes with his personality. But, that was not enough for my nephew to connect with the characters. He gave the story 2 stars. He might not like them, but I have to keep trying new things with him.
February 23, 2019
Oh, this is darling! Zuri's hair "has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way."* It's a special day and Zuri wants an extra-special hairstyle to celebrate, but Mommy's away so she enlists Daddy's help. Talk about an adorable daddy-daughter duo! (And why is Zuri's dad such a hottie? Props to illustrator Vashti Harrison.)
Hair Love is a heartwarming celebration of love and patience, self-confidence and self-expression.
-
*Note: Quotes taken from an Advanced Copy.
Hair Love is a heartwarming celebration of love and patience, self-confidence and self-expression.
Daddy tells me it is beautiful.
That makes me proud.
I love that my hair lets me be me!
In funky braids with beads,
I am a princess.
And when my hair is in two puffs,
I am above the clouds like a superhero.
My hair even does magic tricks.
One day Rocky and I were playing
outside when along came the rain.
From large to small it went.
Presto! Just like that!
There's nothing my hair can't do!*
-
*Note: Quotes taken from an Advanced Copy.
April 10, 2026
When I first read Rosh’s lovely review of this book, I thought it was one I already read. See her review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... But as it turns out, the one I read was called “My Powerful Hair” by Carole Lindstrom. If interested, see that review’s link below.
This beautifully illustrated picture book, inspired by Hair Love—the 2020 winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film—is as heartfelt as it is visually captivating. If interested, the 6-minute, 47 seconds movie link is below.
From the very first page, the vibrant illustrations draw readers in, setting the tone for a story that is both tender and empowering. At its core, this is a celebration of self-acceptance, confidence, and the beauty of natural hair—especially the richness and uniqueness of African American hair.
But it’s also so much more.
It’s a story of love—between a father and daughter navigating a special day, of patience and perseverance when things don’t go quite as planned. And, of the quiet, ever-present comfort of a beloved cat. Zuri’s desire to have her hair just right feels deeply relatable, and the support she receives from her father makes the journey all the more meaningful.
What shines brightest is the message: that we are worthy and beautiful exactly as we are. Through warmth, humor, and heart, this story reminds young readers that love—especially from family—builds confidence in the most lasting way.
A joyful, affirming read that celebrates identity, connection, and the power of being yourself.
Film Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V...
“My Powerful Hair” by Carole Lindstrom review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Age Level: 4 – 8 years+ Reading Level: Preschool – Grade 3+
This beautifully illustrated picture book, inspired by Hair Love—the 2020 winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film—is as heartfelt as it is visually captivating. If interested, the 6-minute, 47 seconds movie link is below.
From the very first page, the vibrant illustrations draw readers in, setting the tone for a story that is both tender and empowering. At its core, this is a celebration of self-acceptance, confidence, and the beauty of natural hair—especially the richness and uniqueness of African American hair.
But it’s also so much more.
It’s a story of love—between a father and daughter navigating a special day, of patience and perseverance when things don’t go quite as planned. And, of the quiet, ever-present comfort of a beloved cat. Zuri’s desire to have her hair just right feels deeply relatable, and the support she receives from her father makes the journey all the more meaningful.
What shines brightest is the message: that we are worthy and beautiful exactly as we are. Through warmth, humor, and heart, this story reminds young readers that love—especially from family—builds confidence in the most lasting way.
A joyful, affirming read that celebrates identity, connection, and the power of being yourself.
Film Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNw8V...
“My Powerful Hair” by Carole Lindstrom review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Age Level: 4 – 8 years+ Reading Level: Preschool – Grade 3+
February 13, 2020
Simply adorable. I cried and I smiled. The ending was sweet a bit sad but great
April 8, 2021
This popped up ..... somewhere???? Give me a second - I’m a Boomer. Oh yeah, this was a recommendation on my hometown library’s Instagram and if you know me then you know if the librarian tells me to do something Imma do it.
While I have plenty of hair issues myself, obviously I don’t have the same types of problems black women have to deal with. In all honesty, as someone who becomes more aware each day of the types of privilege I have had allotted to me my entire life, I have to confess thinking about ethnic hair was never even on my radar until
However, once I saw it I couldn’t ever unsee it and really started noticing that, especially in corporate America, it is pretty much still frowned upon for a woman of color to express herself via her hairstyle. Basically, it’s as comedian Paul Mooney once said . . .
So books like these are super important and there should be a lot of them until little girls (and boys, duh, but this features a little girl) realize it’s okay to be whoever they want to be when it comes to their hair. The illustrations here get allllll the stars, but unfortunately the content was a little lacking. In this story Daddy is in charge of Zuri’s hairstyle for the day because Mommy has been away (apparently out of town? she comes back at the end with an overnight bag, but nothing is really explained). It all works out for both Zuri and Daddy, but why can’t Daddy just do her hair sometimes? I’m not a big fan of any responsibility being considered a “Mommy is the one who does that” kind of thing so this is getting 3 Stars simply because childcare should be 50/50.
While I have plenty of hair issues myself, obviously I don’t have the same types of problems black women have to deal with. In all honesty, as someone who becomes more aware each day of the types of privilege I have had allotted to me my entire life, I have to confess thinking about ethnic hair was never even on my radar until
However, once I saw it I couldn’t ever unsee it and really started noticing that, especially in corporate America, it is pretty much still frowned upon for a woman of color to express herself via her hairstyle. Basically, it’s as comedian Paul Mooney once said . . .
So books like these are super important and there should be a lot of them until little girls (and boys, duh, but this features a little girl) realize it’s okay to be whoever they want to be when it comes to their hair. The illustrations here get allllll the stars, but unfortunately the content was a little lacking. In this story Daddy is in charge of Zuri’s hairstyle for the day because Mommy has been away (apparently out of town? she comes back at the end with an overnight bag, but nothing is really explained). It all works out for both Zuri and Daddy, but why can’t Daddy just do her hair sometimes? I’m not a big fan of any responsibility being considered a “Mommy is the one who does that” kind of thing so this is getting 3 Stars simply because childcare should be 50/50.
June 4, 2019
Five stars for my five stars! This book is EVERYTHING for everyone! Finally we are seeing modern Black representation about everyday families. This is more than Black girl hair. This is family love, gender roles, and celebration of oneself. Every detail...dad’s locs and tattoo, mom’s head wrap, a girl who can have a tea party and also wear a superhero cape, family photos of marriage, graduations, and generational love...is beautiful. Share with everyone you know!
November 26, 2019
Very sweet and cute with great art. As a former stay-at-home dad, I really appreciated seeing another father dealing with braiding and buns.
October 19, 2020
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This is such a fun, touching and heartwarming story.
I remember many years ago my friends hair. She was from Jamaica and I learnt early on the techniques she went through to adorn and enrich her hair and as she would put it “ make me presentable for the men imma gonna meet at large” always made me chuckle.
This is about a little girl whose dad is left in charge. His daughters hair he has to tackle each day.
Embrace your hair. As she embraced her dad.
This was such a loving story.
The graphics are beautifully done.
February 21, 2021
With bold, beautiful, and heartwarming illustrations, Zuri wants her kinky, coiled, and curly hair to be perfect for a special day. As her feline companion, Rocky, watches, her daddy rises to the occasion with love, humor, and determination. What an absolute gem!
February 18, 2020
Let’s be honest. I’ve walked by
Hair Love
several times at my local Barnes & Noble. What did I know? I thought it was just another kids’ book about loving oneself and being proud of one’s African American heritage. Little did I know that there was more to the story. Fast forward to last week’s Oscars and the animated version of the story wins for Best Animated Short. Wow!!! Now, my interest is really piqued. It is time for me to get my hands on this book.
Yes, Hair Love is empowering. Yet, it is so much more. The combination of Matthew A. Cherry’s words and Vashti Harrison’s illustrations are simply amazing!! We see a beautiful and young Zuri embrace the strength and beauty in the different looks she possesses, depending on her hair style. (My favorite is the superhero with the Afro puffs). But, I truly felt the tugs at my heartstrings when Zuri and Daddy are working on her hair. It reminds me of when my husband used to “do” my daughter’s hair. There was a bond that developed there that I could never compete with.
Cherry’s work not only shares and depicts a relationship between a father and his daughter, he shows the love of one family—the father, mother and child—as well. Bravo.
Yes, Hair Love is empowering. Yet, it is so much more. The combination of Matthew A. Cherry’s words and Vashti Harrison’s illustrations are simply amazing!! We see a beautiful and young Zuri embrace the strength and beauty in the different looks she possesses, depending on her hair style. (My favorite is the superhero with the Afro puffs). But, I truly felt the tugs at my heartstrings when Zuri and Daddy are working on her hair. It reminds me of when my husband used to “do” my daughter’s hair. There was a bond that developed there that I could never compete with.
Cherry’s work not only shares and depicts a relationship between a father and his daughter, he shows the love of one family—the father, mother and child—as well. Bravo.
July 28, 2020
4.5⭐️ SUPER cute!
September 12, 2020
I loved this book! It’s excellent in so many levels. Ziti has cool hair. She can do lots of things with it, but often (always?) needs help with it. There’s a special reason for wanting to do her hair up special today, so her father tries (not sure at this point where her mother is) and several attempts are Not Good, but then they find it and success!
Positive body image, involved fathers, independence, perseverance are some of the underlying positive messages that come through.
The illustrations are great!!
Positive body image, involved fathers, independence, perseverance are some of the underlying positive messages that come through.
The illustrations are great!!
September 4, 2022
Cute 🥰
July 28, 2020
I saw the short first, and both smiled and cried. This story is very slightly different, but still deals with a young girl’s beautiful hair and how happy and proud she is to be able to express different sides of her personality through different styles, and how getting her dad’s help for a particular and special look is important for her mother’s homecoming. A sweet and lovely story.
May 31, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAqIwTujg...
My baby boy loved this story so much and the tattoos were a hit. He is growing an Afro and he is loving experience.
Thank you for such positive messaging especially around Afro hair, candy floss hair as my boy calls it.
My baby boy loved this story so much and the tattoos were a hit. He is growing an Afro and he is loving experience.
Thank you for such positive messaging especially around Afro hair, candy floss hair as my boy calls it.
January 26, 2019
I read this with a smile on my face. Uber charming.
June 20, 2019
Based upon a film of the same name, also written by Matthew A. Cherry, and due out later this year (2019), Hair Love is a sweet picture-book about a little African-American girl who is determined to have a very special hairdo for a very special occasion. Her father steps in to help, and after some trial and error, they produce just what she's been looking for...
There has been an uptick recently of picture-books featuring positive messages about black hair - think titles like Cozbi A. Cabrera's My Hair is a Garden , Sharee Miller's Princess Hair , or Derrick Barnes' Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut - but Hair Love is something more. Although its does contain some positive affirmation - Zuri's hair is beautiful and versatile, the styles she uses reflecting her activities and moods - it is just as much a family story. Specifically, a loving father-daughter story, something not seen as frequently in picture-books, I feel, as other parent-child combinations. I found Cherry's narrative engaging and ultimately heartwarming, and thought that illustrator Vashti Harrison's artwork was charming. I particularly loved her depiction of Zuri's cat (small surprise), although all of the characters were expressively realized. Recommended to anyone looking for books about little African-American girls and their hair and/or the loving bond between fathers and daughters.
There has been an uptick recently of picture-books featuring positive messages about black hair - think titles like Cozbi A. Cabrera's My Hair is a Garden , Sharee Miller's Princess Hair , or Derrick Barnes' Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut - but Hair Love is something more. Although its does contain some positive affirmation - Zuri's hair is beautiful and versatile, the styles she uses reflecting her activities and moods - it is just as much a family story. Specifically, a loving father-daughter story, something not seen as frequently in picture-books, I feel, as other parent-child combinations. I found Cherry's narrative engaging and ultimately heartwarming, and thought that illustrator Vashti Harrison's artwork was charming. I particularly loved her depiction of Zuri's cat (small surprise), although all of the characters were expressively realized. Recommended to anyone looking for books about little African-American girls and their hair and/or the loving bond between fathers and daughters.
September 8, 2019
I loooved this. This was so cute. I love that this was about a dad caring for his little girl's hair and finding out how hard it can be to give her the perfect hairstyle she wants for a very special occasion. It warmed my heart to see the family love in such a short amount of pages.
I immediately finished this and forced my daughter to read this.
The artwork is adorable and I loved the colors used. It's such a pretty book to look at. Loved all the hairstyles the author gave our main girl.
When we find out what the special event is, I didn't pay attention to a detail here, but my daughter did and it made me wonder if It's possible and would give the story a very different perspective. I think I could leave that possibility open for my own interpretation of the ending.
I want this book!
I immediately finished this and forced my daughter to read this.
The artwork is adorable and I loved the colors used. It's such a pretty book to look at. Loved all the hairstyles the author gave our main girl.
When we find out what the special event is, I didn't pay attention to a detail here, but my daughter did and it made me wonder if It's possible and would give the story a very different perspective. I think I could leave that possibility open for my own interpretation of the ending.
I want this book!
March 20, 2020
5 stars. I have no interest in having kids and my niece is twelve and would give me a dirty look if I even suggested a picture book to her but this was so incredibly beautiful. The artwork, the story, the melanin, the love of natural hair, Zuri. All of it was just so delightful. I'm not gonna lie, I got a little emotional and full of happy tears at the end because it was just so sweet. Loved it and because my niece has natural hair as well I'm still going to recommend it to her even though she's going to give me the side eye.
June 9, 2022
Super duper cute and sweet!
March 18, 2025
A book that embraces the beauty and fullness of Black girls' hair. But, furthermore, it is a book that shows the love and care between a young girl and her daddy and how he makes her hair important and meaningful for her. Zuri's ability to know what she wants by speaking up and being confident is such a great quality to have in a young child.
My favorite part of course is Zuri explaining all the different ways her hair can become. When she is out having a tea party with Rocky, she tells the readers that her hair can "do magic tricks." However, if you're familiar with Black girls and their hair then you know her hair has been shrunken by the rain that has drenched her curls. Zuri is so aware of her hair and how it shapes her.
I think every little Black and Brown girl needs to see this type of interaction before they become a tween because it gives them the confidence and strength to know how powerful their own body, including their hair, can be. It helps to knock out any contention "society" attempts to throw at them about Black hair. I enjoy how Zuri knows her hair has versatility and power with every braid, puff, or twist. Zuri not only loves herself, but loves her hair, too.
If you and your children like audiobook, then I'd also consider this audio because it is narrated by a Black girl with big confidence Blu Ivy. It was a pleasure to read this one.
Thanks @libby, @dreamscape_media, and @randomhousekids for the ebook and ALC access.
My favorite part of course is Zuri explaining all the different ways her hair can become. When she is out having a tea party with Rocky, she tells the readers that her hair can "do magic tricks." However, if you're familiar with Black girls and their hair then you know her hair has been shrunken by the rain that has drenched her curls. Zuri is so aware of her hair and how it shapes her.
I think every little Black and Brown girl needs to see this type of interaction before they become a tween because it gives them the confidence and strength to know how powerful their own body, including their hair, can be. It helps to knock out any contention "society" attempts to throw at them about Black hair. I enjoy how Zuri knows her hair has versatility and power with every braid, puff, or twist. Zuri not only loves herself, but loves her hair, too.
If you and your children like audiobook, then I'd also consider this audio because it is narrated by a Black girl with big confidence Blu Ivy. It was a pleasure to read this one.
Thanks @libby, @dreamscape_media, and @randomhousekids for the ebook and ALC access.
February 19, 2020
Once upon a time, back in November, I was browsing through new books at the library when I ran across a picture book that looked ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE. ❤️ I loved the illustration style, and the story looked like a super sweet portrayal of family life (and a celebration of some pretty awesome hair). I added this book to my overly tall stack of library books and brought it home.
We passed it around the whole family, and Mom even read it aloud to share the love. 😄 I really enjoyed the story and–I’ll say it again–the illustrations. Seriously, all the heart eyes. 😍😍
(There's also an animated short film of the story that is really, really adorable and just won an Oscar, so be sure to check that out.)
We passed it around the whole family, and Mom even read it aloud to share the love. 😄 I really enjoyed the story and–I’ll say it again–the illustrations. Seriously, all the heart eyes. 😍😍
(There's also an animated short film of the story that is really, really adorable and just won an Oscar, so be sure to check that out.)
December 30, 2024
Aw. Such a sweet story
November 13, 2025
Read banned books 🙌 Really liked this one ☺️
September 13, 2020
I'm very much a reader who can be enticed by a beautiful cover and the artwork for Hair Love caught my eye instantly at the library where I work. So naturally it had to come home with me! But this book is so much more than its gorgeous artwork by illustrator Vashti Harrison.
Written by former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry, this is a sweet story about the bond between dads and daughters, the beauty of natural hair, and family. I love the Black family representation, culture, and gender roles as little Zuri learns, through her dad's trial and error hairstyle attempts, that she can express herself through her various hairstyles.
With stunning illustrations, a wonderfully empowering message that encourages young readers to embrace who they are, and a sassy feline sidekick, this is a charming and joyful story for all families to read.
Written by former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry, this is a sweet story about the bond between dads and daughters, the beauty of natural hair, and family. I love the Black family representation, culture, and gender roles as little Zuri learns, through her dad's trial and error hairstyle attempts, that she can express herself through her various hairstyles.
With stunning illustrations, a wonderfully empowering message that encourages young readers to embrace who they are, and a sassy feline sidekick, this is a charming and joyful story for all families to read.
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