Natalie's Hair Was Wild!

by Laura Freeman, Laura Freeman (Illustrator)

Overview

Natalie's hair is really wild—and she likes it that way! A host of friendly animals agree, and they move right in. At first it's just butterflies and birds that take up residence atop Natalie's head, but soon there are zebras, elephants, even a tiger! With all the roaring and squawking and snorting and burping, poor Natalie can hardly sleep. She needs to find someone to help coax those critters out . . . but who?

Inspired by the author's own childhood adventures with her hair, this playful fantasy will delight all girls and boys who resist having their tresses tamed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328661951
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/02/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Laura Freeman has illustrated several books for young readers, including the Nikki and Deja and Carver Chronicles series, and Natalie's Hair Was Wild, which she also wrote. Laura grew up in New York City, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two children. www.lfreemanart.com Instagram: @laurafreemanart Twitter: @LauraFreemanArt.

Laura Freeman has illustrated several books for young readers, including the Nikki and Deja and Carver Chronicles series, and Natalie's Hair Was Wild, which she also wrote. Laura grew up in New York City, and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two children. www.lfreemanart.com Instagram: @laurafreemanart Twitter: @LauraFreemanArt.

Editorial Reviews

"In her first outing as author, illustrator Freeman (Fancy Party Gowns) captures her heroine’s winning self-possession with concision and calm."—Publishers Weekly, review "Freeman milks both humor and angst from the hairy situation, while not skimping on cute animals, either. An ideal storytime book that ought to snag the attention of listeners and readers."—Booklist, review "The highly textured digital art uses bold colors to balance the increasingly large mass of Natalie’s black curly hair, keeping the tone of the illustrations playful and fun."—School Library Journal, review —

From the Publisher

2017-09-18
A young girl's hair becomes home to animals.Why is Natalie's hair considered to be "wild" simply as it grows out of her head? Readers aren't told. Instead, "wild" is used literally, as a variety of increasingly large animals come to live in the black child's cloud of kinky hair, which "couldn't be tamed by a comb or a pick / or restrained by barrettes or a clip." But the text assures readers that Natalie doesn't care (though her expressions suggest otherwise)…until the animals' noise keeps her from sleeping. She then employs the help of a firefighter and a zookeeper, who coax the animals out, after which Natalie's now-extra-large hair is washed, trimmed, and detangled with a garden hose and yard tools. Her hair suddenly inexplicably cornrowed, Natalie waves goodbye and keeps her hair "neat… / …for at least a week," the final spread showcasing a frolicking Natalie with her unbound natural hair. The application of the word "wild" to a black girl's hair may give many adult readers pause, and the plot holes may confuse young ones (are the zookeeper and firefighter stand-ins for Natalie's parents? Is this all a metaphor for getting your hair done?). Perhaps one day we can reclaim the word "wild" as a descriptor for black hair, but this book doesn't do the trick. As it is, it could facilitate discussion on the politics of black hair. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews