Beach Hair

Making a lively picture book debut, Woodfolk (Nothing Burns as Bright as You) pays homage to seaside ’dos of all kinds. When the child narrator and their family wake up “with the wildest bed head,” and Mommy calls it “beach hair,” the grinning trio packs up and heads to the shore. Upon arrival, the young protagonist uses comparative prose to describe various hair styles: Black-cued Mommy’s is “fluffy and big,/ like the fat white clouds,” while pale-skinned Daddy’s dark hair “is straight, going sideways with the wind,/ like the tall seagrass,” and the brown-skinned protagonist’s is “like the soft waves in the ocean.” Mata (I Love My Spots) employs brilliantly colorful digital art, portraying people of varying ages, body types, and skin tones interacting by the water: “I see BOUNCY beach hair/ and FLOUNCY beach hair./ WISPY and WOOLLY and/ UP-IN-THE-AIR beach hair.” After swimming, the family’s sun-baked ’dos change again, into “tiny spirals” like seashells for Mommy, “feathery and floppy” tresses like a seagull’s wings for Daddy, and “fat curls,/ the same shape as soft-serve” for the protagonist. It’s a well-observed celebration that’s a day at the beach. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker. Illustrator’s agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency. (June)