Hair Twins

by Raakhee Mirchandani, Holly Hatam (Illustrator)

Overview

A Sikh father and daughter with a special hair bond proudly celebrate and share a family tradition in this charming story perfect for fans of Hair Love and I Love My Hair!

Every morning Papa combs through his daughter's waves like he does his own—parting it down the middle, using coconut oil to get all the tangles out.

Some days he braids her hair in two twists down the side of her face. Other days he weaves it into one long braid hanging down her back, just like a unicorn tail.
 
But her favorite style is when he combs her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. They call this their hair twin look!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316495301
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	130,368
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Raakhee Mirchandani is an award-winning writer and editor and the author of Super Satya Saves the Day. When she isn't writing, Raakhee is either organizing her book shelves, running races to raise money for kids with cancer, or styling her very curly hair with new oils and potions. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with her husband and daughter, the inspiration for Hair Twins. She invites you to follow her on Twitter @Raakstar and on Instagram @RaakstarWrites.

Holly Hatam is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dear Girl and Dear Boy, as well as Unicorns Are Real, Made by Maxine, and Jack (Not Jackie). She loves hugging trees, drinking tea, sniffing books, music, animations and most importantly, unicorns. She invites you to be transported into her magical world by visiting hollyhatam.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/26/2021

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. (May)

Publishers Weekly

*“A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love.”

—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*“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.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A loving portrayal of a father-daughter bond that is strengthened over daily hair care, something that honors the characters’ religion while nurturing their relationship."

—Horn Book

From the Publisher

06/25/2021

PreS-Gr 2—A small girl with long black hair provides a first-person narration about her Sikh father, who has a beard and wears a turban over his own long black hair. Papa tames her hair with coconut oil, twisting it into a Rapunzel-esque braid; they both love the pink hair band she chooses. He brushes his beard, too, and whether their hair is up or down, braided or free-flowing, they share a new adventure each day. Mirchandani creates a celebration of love between a Sikh father and his daughter who connect through the strands of their silky hair. In a note, she explains the pieces of the tale that are about her own husband and small daughter; a photograph shows the bond between them. The cheerful narrative is uplifting and illuminates the reverence of hair by the Sikh community, with traditions that this family merges with the American landscape. Vibrant digital illustrations are a true delight as colorful portrayals of the fun dance from page to page. Hatam represents the characters with glowing brown skin and lovable facial expressions while capturing the story's spirit with wholesome scenes. VERDICT A diverse picture book filled with love, laughter, individuality, and lots of hair; this is a necessary addition to all library collections.—Suraya Jairam, Queens P.L., Hollis, NY

School Library Journal

★ 2021-03-17
In this book, an unnamed Sikh girl describes the way she and her father take care of their hair.

In accordance with Sikh tradition, the narrator and her father both wear their dark hair long. The narrator describes how her father helps her comb her hair, using coconut oil to detangle it. Some days, she says, he plaits her hair into two long braids just like her grandmother’s. Other days, he twists it into a bun that matches his own, and the two become the titular “hair twins.” When the protagonist comes home from school, she lets her hair out and dances with her father, enjoying her long, free tresses. Afterward, the father ties the girl’s hair into one long braid while he ties a turban on his head. The story ends with the girl and her father going to the park to meet the girl’s friends and their families, all of whom have their own varied hairstyles and family structures—a conclusion that reinforces the book’s celebration of all types of hair, bodies, and people. Hatam’s illustrations are both child friendly and clever, incorporating symbolism from the text into fanciful pictures that burst with pride and joy. The lyrical text is both accessible and poetic, and the narratorial voice has a sincerity and enthusiasm that make it a delight to read. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.6 % of actual size.)

A feel-good picture book about diversity, family relationships, and self-love. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews