Nappy

Nappy by means of Charisse Camey-Nunes Illustrated by Ann Marie Williams Brand Nu Words, January 2006 $14 ISBN 0-974-81421-0

Nappy is not alone a children's hair story, it is a volume that tells of the distinct connections between black, female pioneers before, during and after slavery, and that they all had individual thing in common besides their fearless attitudes and black skin--they all had "super-nappturally hair texture" Parents and readers will benefit from Nappy because it teaches young girls about "hair, history and heritage" which is nutrition for the inner man in this age in which women and girls weave, perm and proces their hair and seemingly disconnect themselves from their roots

As if the story line were not enough, the author has included mini-biographies upon black female pioneers at the back of the work Without a doubt, the illustrations are appropriate to the story line. In fact, more [i]or[/i] less are so vivid they bring back memories of childhood--hair being twitched and comb teeth breaking--all for the price of ponytails or cornrows. A matte finish, however, makes the illustrations appear simple. The volume is ideal for a birthday or holiday gift or perhaps a treat for any young girl questioning her "nappy" hair.

--Reviewed by means of Jacqueline Leslie Jacqueline Leslie, an intern at BIBR, lives in Brooklyn and is a graduating senior at Medgar at any times College, pursuing a B.A. in English. She will attend graduate place of education in the fall.

COPYRIGHT 2006 Cox Matthews & Associates

COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group