My Hair Is Magic!

What’s a kid to do when some people always want to know “Why is your hair so BIG?” In Marroquin’s debut, the narrator, who wears fluffy natural curls that are almost as tall as she is, tackles this question with courage and pizzazz, setting boundaries with those who ask, “Can I touch? Does it feel rough?” Engel’s vibrant images, a mix of acrylics, oils, and collage, visualize the child’s “tresses that enchant” as natural elements: “Calm as a summer breeze,/ Powerful as ferocious bears” and “Hot as the desert sun,/ Cool as winter rain.” In bright colors, the images portray the child with hair covered in bright clouds, musical notes, and an entire forest. This sweet appreciation of a confident Black child and her beautiful, versatile hair declares, “My hair is ME!” Ages 4–8. (Oct.)