I Love My Hair!
Keyana, a vibrant and spirited little girl, learns to love her hair and how it's a part of her identity. Her mother gently brushes it out every night, yet it always hurts when the bristles are worked through her tangled strands. When the work is finally done, Keyana appreciates all the beautiful ways her hair can be styled to match her mood and personality. For more than two decades, this book has helped girls embrace their natural hair.
Inspiring Children's Books About Natural Black Hair
Raising children to feel confident and proud of their heritage is important. The struggles, obstacles, and hard work of ancestors paved the way for opportunities their offspring have today. The physical traits of black children, especially the hair on top of their head, are celebrated, embraced and cherished in these picture books. And when it's time for a trip to the salon or barber shop, add some fun kids' books about haircuts.
Every single family, no matter the race, should make an effort to read a diverse selection of books featuring kids of every color and hair type. Consider adding some children's books about multiracial families that also celebrate the unique and beautiful traits of kids from diverse backgrounds.
Don't Touch My Hair!
Aria is a beautiful girl with hair that is the envy of everyone who sees her. Her natural black curly hair has an almost magnetic force. The hands of strangers, jungle animals, and sea creatures reach out to touch her magnificent head of hair. Even mermaids and aliens from outer space want to feel her wavy strands. An amazing and empowering story for little girls that redefines the standard of beauty often found in children's picture books.
My Hair
A very excited little girl is getting ready for a big party. A rhyming book told in first person, this story is full of endless hairstyle possibilities. Of course her outfit is important. But the way she wears her hair takes priority. There are just so many options to consider- dreadlocks, cornrows, braids, Bantu knots, or short and cropped! The only problem with this book is that it offers way too many awesome possibilities for styling black hair.
Hair Love
Many times mommies are the ones who take the lead in styling hair. In this reversal of roles, a loving daddy decides it's time for him to work on Zuri's hair. It's not an easy job when a girl's hair twists and curls, and is generally uncooperative. Despite a few little setbacks, the father-daughter duo perfect a hairstyle that is just right for a special occasion. This book may seem like it's about hair on the surface, but look a little deeper to find the special bond between a daddy and his little girl.
My Hair is Magic!
Incredible artwork fills the pages of this hair-empowering book. While other try to tame, control, and tie back their unruly curls, this girl knows that her hair is her superpower. Both soft and strong, gentle and ferocious, this is hair that should never be manipulated or forced to conform. This is a book for girls who understand their worth and refuse to let the opinions of others affect their self-esteem.
My Hair is Beautiful
A sturdy, photographic board book features children with different hairstyles on every single page. Cute toddlers with various skin tones show off their afros, cornrows, and other styles. It's a testament to the cultural significance of black hair and showcases all the beautiful and creative ways to style it.
Happy to Be Nappy
An affirming board book for toddlers about the benefits of nappy hair. The text, while concise and snappy, effectively conveys a little girl's pride in her wonderful hair. The book is playful, but don't discount the powerful, important message it relays to young children.
Happy Hair
A darling board book that emits positivity and self-love. Bouncy rhymes cover all kinds of styles that are perfect for curly, textured hair. Bantus, blow-outs, pom-pom puffs and braids are just a few of the examples. The illustrations are so very cute and the message for little girls everywhere is clear- love yourself!
Maggie Sinclair, Will You Please Fix Your Hair?!
For kids of any color, Maggie Sinclair has something important to communicate. Her does not need to be fixed because it was never broken in the first place. Unfortunately, when her grandmother comes for a visit, she seems to disagree. Her wild, unruly curls are a mess. But Maggie shows her, through her imagination and creativity, that her hair is simply perfect.
Nappy Hair
Brenda is part of a large and loving family who likes to lovingly make fun of her curly, twisty hair. In back-and-forth, lovingly fun-poking style, her parents and siblings make hilarious observations about her wild hair. Throughout the entire banter, readers learn about the deeper cultural meaning her hair represents. Brenda is a good sport throughout all of the teasing, which is perhaps just disguised jealousy of her glorious head of hair.
Curls
A very simple board book perfect for African American babies and toddlers. Four little girls compare their bouncy, curly, braided hair. The pictures are captivating and luminescent. Consider giving this book as a baby shower gift along with some cute bows, hair ties, or barrettes for baby girls.
Me and My Afro
The author of this book is a 10-year-old boy who is proud of his Afro. The story, short and sweet, delivers the important message of loving yourself and feeling content in your own skin. He wears his hair proudly and naturally, a sign that he is happy and self-confident.
The Story of Afro Hair
A gorgeously illustrated, non-fiction book that goes back nearly 5,000 years to cover the rich history of Afro hair. This 125-page volume can be appreciated by older children and adults alike who are interested in a unique history lesson. This informative book is chock full of stories about how politics and fashion collide to shape the myriad of Afro hair styles. Rich in culture, history and nostalgia, kids will learn the important role hair plays in making a statement.
Cool Cuts
This is the coolest book you can give to a little black boy, perhaps as a baby shower gift or first birthday. A bouncy poem provides inspiration for boys who want to have amazing hair. Every single page introduces a unique style for little guys, like cornrows, afros, and fro-hawks. An esteem-boosting book about hair, but really so much more!
Hair Story
Two girls with personalities as big as their hair spend a lot of hours talking about and styling their locks. In a fun little rhyme, they share their frustrations with trying to flat iron, straighten and otherwise force their hair to do something against its natural form. They have a lot of fun setting up a pretend salon, where they draw inspiration from their neighbors, relatives and cultural icons. Most important of all, they learn about ancestors whose genes are reflected through their hair type.
The Lollipop Book Club is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Why Read Kids' Books About Natural Black Hair
Black Dolls With Natural Hair
Lots of little girls love styling and accessorizing their hair. Experimenting with different lengths, braids, bows, and barrettes is all part of the fun. A fun gift idea is to pair some books celebrating African American hair styles for girls with dolls who share the same hair color and texture. Young kids love to play with a variety of toys, but there's something pretty special about having a doll that looks just like them.
Adorable African American Baby Doll
This beautiful girl measures 12 inches tall. She is flexible and can be easily adjusted into a variety of positions. Her most outstanding feature is a head full of magnificent curls. Girls will love tying a variety of bandanas and bows into her hair to change her look. Visit the Nice2You Store to view the entire collection.
African American Newborn Doll
An amazingly realistic-looking newborn doll that weighs close to 4 pounds. Her movable arms and legs allow children to position her in many ways. This baby's features are handpainted and she comes with clothing and several fun baby accessories.
Pretty Black Doll With Braids
This girl has style! She's rocking an awesome rainbow tee and some cool kicks. Kids will love playing and styling her long braids. Her clothes and accessories are interchangeable with other items in the Unicorn Element Collection.
Journey Girl Doll: Chavonne
Beautiful and stylish, Chavonne stands 18 inches tall. Her long, shiny dark hair complements her large, expressive eyes. All of her clothing is interchangeable with other dolls and and clothing in this collection. Shop the Journey Girls Store for more dolls and accessories.
Beautiful Black Doll With Accessories
This gorgeous girl is ready to head to an exotic location. Her hair, fun and natural, is ready to be embellished with a bow or barrette. Kids will love taking her along on their own travel adventures! She stands at about 15 inches tall and can be styled with other clothing and accessories from the BDDOLL collection.
Adorable Black Girl Rag Doll
Meet Kaylie. She is soft and snuggly with removable clothing that helps develop fine motor skills. This darling plush doll is well-crafted for hours of snuggle time and play. Check out the Playtime by Eimmie store for more dolls and accessories for your little girl or boy.
