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Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry, Matthew Cherry
A tender, funny picture book about a father learning to style his daughter's curly hair, with warm art that celebrates Black family life without preaching.
What It's About
Hair Love is a picture book about Zuri, a young Black girl with big, curly hair, and her father, who is determined to get her hair right for a special day. The story follows the slow, earnest effort of a dad who has never done this kind of styling before, and it treats that effort with humor and affection rather than as a lesson. Readers who expect a plot built on conflict will find something quieter here: the book is about routine, patience, and love shown through small acts.
The text is short and rhythmic, and it is built to be read aloud. Much of the meaning sits in the illustrations, which carry expression, body language, and the close, everyday intimacy between father and daughter. Adults reading along will notice how much the pictures add. The book's pace suits very young listeners, who can follow along easily and enjoy spotting the details on each page.
The reading experience is brief, warm, and affirming. It takes about as long as a bedtime routine, and it is likely to prompt conversation about hair, family, and what care looks like. Its appeal is less about surprise than about recognition, which is why it works so well for families who see themselves on the page for the first time.
Read this if you…
- want a warm read-aloud for young children that celebrates Black family life
- are a parent or teacher looking for a book about hair care, routine, or learning a new skill
- want picture books where the illustrations do as much storytelling as the text
Skip it if you…
- need a picture book with a strong plot, conflict, or a clear narrative arc
- are looking for a deeper or more detailed exploration of hair care techniques
Key Ideas
- 1
Care shown through effort, not perfection
The father's attempts are imperfect and sometimes comically clumsy, and the book lets that be part of the story. The message is that love shows up in persistence and willingness to learn, not in getting everything right the first time. This makes the book useful for talking with children about trying something new and asking for patience from themselves.
- 2
Black hair as ordinary and joyful
Zuri's hair is presented as beautiful and worth the time it takes, without commentary or explanation aimed at outside readers. The book trusts its audience to understand the routines involved. This gives Black children a mirror that feels natural rather than instructional, which is a large part of why the book has resonated so widely.
- 3
Illustrations that carry the emotional weight
Vashti Harrison's art does much of the storytelling through faces, posture, and the textures of hair and clothing. Pages reward slow looking, and the expressions often say more than the words. Reading the pictures closely is part of the experience, especially for children who are still learning to read.
- 4
A father-daughter story with quiet family texture
The book centers a father in a caregiving role that picture books have often left to others. Family life is suggested through small details rather than explained, which keeps the focus on the bond between the two characters. Readers looking for a gentle portrait of fatherhood will find it here.
Limitations
The book is brief and deliberately gentle, so readers who want more complexity or a fuller emotional arc may find it slight. Some have wished for more specific guidance on hair care, though that is not its purpose. Its focus on a father caring for a daughter also leaves other family structures largely offstage, which some readers feel limits who sees themselves in it. Its popularity has also brought heavy attention, which can make it feel like more of a cultural moment than a book to judge on its own terms.
Questions Readers Ask
- Who is Hair Love best for?
- It suits preschool and early elementary readers, especially as a read-aloud for families, classrooms, and libraries. It is also a good gift for families who want books that reflect Black children and fathers in everyday caregiving. Older readers can enjoy the art, but the text is intentionally simple and may feel slight to them.
- Is Hair Love still relevant?
- Its themes of family, patience, and self-acceptance remain current, and it is widely used in classrooms and libraries. Because it is a short picture book, it reads as quickly now as when it was published. Whether it stays relevant for a given child depends more on the reader than on the calendar.
- How does it compare to other picture books about hair?
- Many hair-themed picture books focus on a child's own feelings about their hair or on a specific lesson. This one is more about the relationship between a father and daughter and the shared work of care. It pairs well with books that explore identity and self-image more directly.
- Published
- 2019
- ISBN
- 9780525553366
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Children's Books
Book details and cover from Google Books.
Ready to read Hair Love?
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