Hairstory

Sope Martins is a Nigerian author of numerous children’s books including The African Princess, Teju’s Shadow, and The Greatest Animal in the Jungle. She is also a radio broadcaster. Hairstory is her picture book debut in the United States.Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, recent recipient of the John Steptoe New Talent Award, is an illustrator, visual development artist, and first-generation Nigerian American. She is the illustrator of multiple picture books including The Talk by Alicia D. Williams, which received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, and Hairstory by Sope Martins. Her work is inspired by her interests in folklore, film, and animation and her passion to highlight voices that usually go unheard.

The rich African history of Black hair is spotlighted in Martins’ latest picture book. An acrostic poem spelling “hairstory” spotlights the beauty of Black hair and is interspersed with lengthier text highlighting the historical roots of Black hairstyles in Africa. Various African tribes and cultures are represented in stunning, softly textured illustrations that show the process of people styling their hair, just as the girl is continuing that tradition now. The illustrations create an otherworldly feel as readers are transported through history, lore, and the power of Black cultural experiences. After a glorious journey through Black hair history, the young girl is shown proudly looking through the mirror at her own unique hairstory. [...] African culture and history, vibrant illustrations, and the magic of Black hair combine for a beautifully styled tale readers will read again and again.