Hair Twins

A brown-skinned girl relays the hair routines of her long-haired Sikh father and herself in this bouncy picture book by Mirchandani, inspired by her husband and daughter. Parts of the maintenance process are highlighted in accessible figurative language: “He brushes my hair like he does his own, splitting it down the middle, like a river separating two enchanted forests,” one spread reads, as the child’s hair is visualized as flowing watercolor waves. Other pages maintain the earnest, kid-friendly first-person perspective: “ ‘Hair cheers!’ I tell him,” one page reads; the daughter playfully knocks her joora against her bearded father’s. Digitally collaged illustrations in a colorful cartoon style by Hatam spotlight a cast with a range of abilities, hair textures, religions, and skin tones. A sweet read that epitomizes a compassionate bond between parent and child. Back matter features an author’s note and a photo of the book’s inspiration. Ages 4–8. [em](May) [/em]