Curls

by Ruth Forman, Geneva Bowers (Illustrator)

Overview

A joyfully poetic board book that delivers an ode to African American girls and the beauty of their curls.

Me
Morning

Mirror Smile

Shine big
hair love

This simple, playful, and beautiful board book stars four friends who celebrate the joy of their hairstyles from bouncing curls to swinging braids.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534446311
Publisher:	Little Simon
Publication date:	12/22/2020
Pages:	26
Sales rank:	113,835
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 6.50(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Ruth Forman is the author of bestselling children’s books Curls, Glow, Bloom, Ours, One, and Like So, as well as award-winning poetry collections We Are the Young Magicians and Renaissance.

Geneva Bowers is a self-taught illustrator based in western North Carolina. She’s illustrated children’s books The Dragon Thief, Beyoncé: Shine Your Light, and Curls, among others. Geneva’s work has won the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist and a 2018 BSFA Award nomination. She loves manipulating color and adding whimsy with a touch of realism and calm. Visit her online at GenevaB.com.

Editorial Reviews

09/07/2020

In spare text and radiant cartoon art, poet Forman and illustrator Bowers deliver a cheerful celebration of Black hair as four friends with differing skin tones and hairstyles meet up. One child awakens, hair wrapped as she flashes herself a “mirror smile”; she awaits the others’ arrival while an older caretaker sees to her ’do on the porch (“smooth grease?/ yes please!”). Eye-catching illustrations portray arriving school-age children sporting an Afro, pigtail puffs, and beaded braids, as the protagonist’s loose curls are worked into cornrows. When her hair is done, the four head out to play. Though the mix of spare text and older protagonists feels muddled for the board book format, readers will appreciate the diversity of hair textures and styles on a lively group of children who are “always free.” Ages 0 and up. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 04/01/2021

PreS-K—Blooming with luminous painterly forms, this story of four young Black girls getting ready for the day shows a pure pride in their various hair textures, colors, and styles. Rather than phrases, carefully selected words make up the text and highlight each girl's natural beauty and a supportive friendship.

School Library Journal