How much do I talk about? How much can I, as a white woman, talk about authentically? I feel more comfortable writing reviews of books that feature Latinx characters because, while I am not Latinx, Latinx culture IS integral to life in Southern California, where I grew up and live, and where I spend five days a week immersed in (and always working to learn more about) a population of students that is almost 100% Latinx. Yes, this is a book about a father fixing his daughter's hair, but I know it's also so much more - culturally, socially, politically. And honestly, I felt really challenged when writing this review. As a white woman, I don't know what it means or what the challenges and joys are of having Black hair. Zuri's determination and disappointment are palpable, as is the love that exists between Zuri and her Daddy have and the family as a whole. Hair Love the book, illustrated by Vashti Harrison, best known for her Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History books, brings Zuri and her hair to life in a style that feels akin to animation. Happily, Hair Love, the film, has been optioned by Sony and will be coming to screens later this year. Cherry's Hair Love began life as a Kickstarter campaign to bring it to life as an animated short.
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