Good Hair (Yvonne Sewankambo, illus Freda Chiu, Walker)

Good Hair is a sweet picture book all about celebrating diversity—through hair. When Birungi is reluctant to go to school after struggling to do her hair, she declares she hates her hair and that ‘it’s just no good’. Her parents know that’s not true, and during the walk to school, they explore many different kinds of hair (and ways of styling it) so that by the end, Birungi realises that all hair is good hair. Freda Chiu’s illustrations are spirited and engaging, while Yvonne Sewankambo’s story holds a message for all children and, in fact, all people, wherever they may be: to embrace their differences. Good Hair is a visually stimulating story with a great rhythm, making it a perfect book to read aloud. It is a wonderfully inclusive book representing various cultures and subcultures, showcasing the beauty of hair (as well as its absence) through various types and styles, whether natural, altered, or playing ‘hide and seek’, that is, bald. The hair that is (or isn’t) on your head is good hair, whatever you may choose to do with it, and this message is loud and clear through Birungi’s journey. This story is perfect for children aged 3+ and for fans of Sandhya Parappukkaran’s The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name.

Read our interview with Yvonne Sewankambo here.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Anneliese Gates is a writer and works in a primary school library. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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