Hair Love
About This Book
Zuri's hair has a mind of its own — and today Daddy is in charge of styling it for a very special occasion. With determination, a YouTube tutorial, and a lot of love, this father-daughter duo tackle every twist and coil in Zuri's gorgeous natural hair. The Academy Award-winning short film's picture book tells a joyful story of Black fatherhood, family love, and loving your hair exactly as it grows.
Themes
FamilyIdentityBlack Culture
Best For
- Black children who want to see their natural hair celebrated in the books they read
- Father-child read-aloud sessions, especially around topics of caregiving and bonding
- Classrooms or libraries building diverse and representative picture book collections
- Families navigating hair-care routines who want to frame the experience as an act of love
- Children beginning to develop their sense of identity and what makes them uniquely themselves
Why Parents Love This Book
Hair Love stands out for centering a story that is too rarely told: a Black father tenderly caring for his daughter's natural hair. Matthew A. Cherry and illustrator Vashti Harrison have created something that feels both intimate and universal — the fumbling determination of a dad facing a YouTube tutorial, the patience required for each twist and coil, and the quiet pride at the end. Harrison's illustrations burst with warmth and texture, rendering Zuri's gorgeous natural hair with genuine artistry. The book does not treat Black hair as a novelty or a problem to be solved; it celebrates natural hair as beautiful on its own terms. The ending, which reveals the special occasion Zuri is dressed for, delivers an emotional punch that moves many adult readers to tears. This is a book that reflects the lives of many Black families with specificity and joy, while also offering every child a story about the love that goes into showing up for someone.
Reading Tips for Parents
Before reading, let your child look closely at each spread — Vashti Harrison's illustrations reward slow attention, especially the detailed depictions of Zuri's hair at each stage of styling. Pause when Daddy pulls up the YouTube tutorial and ask your child if they have ever watched someone learn something new that way. The emotional payoff of the ending lands better if you read it slowly and let your child process the reveal. For Black families, this is a wonderful book to pair with your own hair-care routines, turning it into a lived conversation rather than just a story. For all families, it is a natural opener for talking about what dads — and all caregivers — do to show love in practical, everyday ways.
Awards & Recognition
- Academy Award — Best Animated Short Film (for the animated short film on which this book is based, 2020)
- New York Times Bestseller
- Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor (Vashti Harrison, 2020)
Educational Value
This book helps children develop skills across multiple areas:
- Social-emotional learning: Builds understanding of how love shows up through patience, effort, and showing up for someone even when a task is hard.
- Cultural identity: Affirms natural Black hair as beautiful and worthy of celebration, supporting positive self-image for Black children.
- Family dynamics: Portrays Black fatherhood with warmth and tenderness, broadening children's understanding of caregiving roles.
- Vocabulary: Introduces descriptive language around hair textures and styles — coils, twists, natural — that many children may not encounter in books.
- Resilience: Models persistence and problem-solving as Daddy tries, makes mistakes, and keeps going rather than giving up.
- Media literacy: Shows a character learning from a video tutorial, offering a natural talking point about using technology as a learning tool.
Discussion Questions
Use these questions to spark conversation before, during, or after reading:
- Why do you think Daddy decided to try styling Zuri's hair himself instead of asking someone else for help?
- How did Zuri feel at the beginning of the story, and how did her feelings change by the end? What caused that change?
- Have you ever had to learn something new that felt really hard at first? What did you do?
- What do you think the special occasion is, and why is Daddy so determined to get Zuri's hair just right for it?
- Zuri's hair is described as having a mind of its own. If your hair (or something about you) could have a mind of its own, what would it do?
Content Notes for Parents
There are no scary, violent, or mature elements in this book. The emotional reveal near the end — involving a parent who is away — may prompt gentle questions from some children, which most families will find manageable and worth discussing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Hair Love best suited for?
The book is written for children ages 4 to 7, which aligns with the picture book format and the reading level. Younger children around ages 3 to 4 can enjoy it as a read-aloud for the warm illustrations and the father-daughter dynamic, while children up to age 8 or 9 will appreciate the emotional storyline and the reveal at the end.
Is there anything in the book that might be upsetting for young children?
The book is gentle and joyful throughout. Near the end, it becomes clear that one parent has been away, which some children may find emotionally touching. It is handled with care and does not dwell on anything distressing, but parents who want to preview the ending before reading aloud may find that helpful.
We are not a Black family. Is this book still relevant for us?
Absolutely. The core story — a parent figuring out how to care for their child and both of them discovering how much love goes into showing up — is one every family can connect with. Reading books that center Black families also helps all children build empathy and expand their sense of whose stories matter.
Is this related to the short film?
Yes. Matthew A. Cherry first created Hair Love as an animated short film, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020. The picture book, illustrated by Vashti Harrison, was published in 2019 and shares the same story and characters. The two complement each other beautifully if you want to watch the film alongside the book.
What books are similar to Hair Love that we might enjoy next?
If your child loved Hair Love, try Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi for conversations about identity, or Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes for another celebration of Black hair and pride. My Hair by Hannah Lee is a great choice for younger children, and The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad explores wearing something meaningful as part of who you are.
