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Summary: A couple of things about Nappy Hair
Review: A couple of things about this book: The author implied that all people of color have nappy hair. This is untrue. Many people can have nappy hair, regardless of race or sex. I also found it interesting that all of the characters in the book basically had the same features. The only difference between any of the town folk, the family, the angels was different types of hair. I think the focus on the hair may be a bad thing. She was different, because she did not have the same kind of hair as everyone else did. I think this is a negative impact, because it is basically saying that if you are not the same as the crowd, then you are not a part of it. I think that this book could have a negative affect on a child. If a child that was reading this book was as different as the little girl, s/he would be uneasy about going out and being exposed to the community. It would take some time to be proud of what s/he may have to offer.
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Summary: happy, lighthearted kids book celebrating nappy hair...
Review: great book for kids... helps lil girls with nappy-textured hair learn to love and appreciate their hair. typically the way the hair is described and talked about in the book would be negative and derogatory. it sounds like nappy hair is being called out and laughed at as if it's a bad thing and that is historically typical in the afro community in america (or any other afro community exposed to american culture and thinking)... but somehow this story makes nappy hair seem fun and special. in the end uncle mordecai says that God made Brenda's hair special saying how there is no other PERFECT CIRCLE in nature! Brenda's supposed "flaw" becomes something unique and specially crafted by God in His will. I read to my daughter nightly and this is a favorite for her... blessings
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Summary: I Love It !!!
Review: I dont know why (some) people were offended.
It's a very positive book.
In short, it tells you to be proud of your heritage and whom you are.
Rating:
Summary: A definite five stars!
Review: I first heard of this book in a comedy club a few nights ago. The comedian was talking about judging books by their covers. Ironically, I came across the book today and read it before buying it. I was throughly delighted and impressed. This book addresses and celebrates one beautiful uniqueness of Black people. It delivers such culture in a fun and positive way. The book is wonderful. Some who wrote on-line messages disagreed with the book's content as it used the word "nappy" and mentioned God. The term, "nappy", is part of Black culture. It identifies a particular texture of hair characteristic of Blacks. It is widely accepted by Blacks as self-description and therefore appropriate. This specific word, "nappy", creates a culturally rich text. In regards to the mention of God, it is anyone's right to choose not to believe in God. However, it is also the right of believers to express their faith. As an overwhelming number of people believe in God, exposure to the "idea" is one minisucule component of one's education; their well-rounded-ness. Knowledge of God should help question or define one's own beliefs. Exposure does not necessarily mean condolence. Exposure is plainly the means through which education occurs. People today are so concerned about political correctness. However, a strictly "politically correct" society would sacrafice ethnic and human culture. Nappy Hair is an exemplary illustration of both ethnic and human expression!
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Summary: A book about me, too
Review: I read Nappy Hair. I felt like the character had a lot of the same things that go on in my life and my family. Like me having nappy hair. My sister has wonderful hair and it is just like my mother's. But mine is all nappy and it is not soft or marvelous like my sister's and my mom's. This book helped me when I could not tell people about myself. It took me a long time for me to come out with the real me and when I read this book, that book just reminded me of me. That is excellent because I guess that's the way the writer makes her magical book. It has an effect on me. I can go on and on about her being a righteous author but as you can see I will not, but she is a righteous author. This book is perfect and the characters are outrageous!
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Summary: Could be a white girl with bone straight hair.
Review: Nappy Hair is a story that presents the differences between white, blacks and others of different ethnicities. How African Americans are created differently and an example of that is their hair. African Americans have nappy hair, hair that is curly and probably quite difficult to control. Some people are offended by the term nappy but that is only because they take it out of content. I personally took no offense to it because I believe that African Americans so have nappy hair. If it is natural, it is very curly or "fuzzy" and many of my friends that are black state that they have nappy hair. Nappy is not a bad word to use and people only believe hat it is because so many people like to find some bit of racism in everything done and said by everybody. It is quite sad but it is the truth. People just need to relax and not think too hard about what is said and find secret meanings. Nappy Hair is a good way of showing that. Be proud of who you are, not everything is bad.
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Summary: How do you view Nappy?
Review: Nappy Hair may seem controversial to many, but it really depends on how you see the word "nappy". If you view the word "nappy" as an insult instead of a description you may have viewed Nappy Hair as controversial. In this book nappy hair was given to a young African American girl from God. This you girl was very intelligent. Nappy Hair was an excellent book and should be shared with everyone.
Rating:
Summary: An adorable story
Review: Nappy hair, an adorable story of a young girl and her unique, ethnic locks, is a great example for children everywhere. Yes, it is somewhat controversial, but it portrays "nappy hair" in a postive light, and would be a great diversity on school shelves. If the term "nappy" is what's bothering you, then you need this book more than anyone. Children learn what they are taught. If they are taught that "nappy" is bad, then yes, this book may be offensive. But if they are exposed to this adjective as a descriptive work with neither negative nor poistive connotations, then it is nothing to catch their attention. An unbiased reading of this book sees only the colorful pages, conversational tone and wonderful theme: love who you are. Nappy Hair is wonderfully enteraining and a great addition in children's books. If this offends you, you need to read the book again.
Rating:
Summary: An adorable story
Review: Nappy hair, an adorable story of a young girl and her unique, ethnic locks, is a great example for children everywhere. Yes, it is somewhat controversial, but it portrays "nappy hair" in a postive light, and would be a great diversity on school shelves. If the term "nappy" is what's bothering you, then you need this book more than anyone. Children learn what they are taught. If they are taught that "nappy" is bad, then yes, this book may be offensive. But if they are exposed to this adjective as a descriptive work with neither negative nor poistive connotations, then it is nothing to catch their attention. An unbiased reading of this book sees only the colorful pages, conversational tone and wonderful theme: love who you are. Nappy Hair is wonderfully enteraining and a great addition in children's books. If this offends you, you need to read the book again.
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Summary: Naps galore
Review: There's nothing like reading a good controversial book before beddy-bye. I decided to check out the infamous "Nappy Hair", once considered so damaging by so few (and yet so vocal). So I flipped through it. Then I read it once. Then I read it twice. Then I tried turning it upside down and reading it from back to front because I just couldn't see how anyone could raise a ruckus over such a great little old story. The fact of the matter is, ladies and gentlemen, that this is a great book. A fun to read tale of accepting one's own self despite physical aspects that some members of society might not approve of. In short, having nappy hair.
Now the book opens with the family's Uncle Mordecai telling a tale. The whole book is, in fact, in Uncle Mordecai's voice and as he speaks about little Brenda, her nappyness, and the nature of African American hair itself, his family is getting ready to sit down to a summer picnic of hot dogs, side dishes, and pie. In his story, Mordecai talks about the very essence of Brenda's hair. How hard it is to untangle, the sound it makes when you try, and who Brenda is herself. He then suddenly lauches headlong (despite the repeated groans and moans of his extended family) into telling how God himself proclaimed this hair to be as it is. We do not, for the record, see God. We just hear Him as He states that this child will have at least eight complete circles in her hair per inch (a line that I love). As a result, here is a girl that avoids the straighteners, the relaxers, and the processes that would render her hair flat and dull. The book even goes so far as to explain about Africa and how this hair came straight over the slave ships and, "wouldn't stop for nothing". And then here we have her. A girl that can dance, "right on through all the wimp hair". She's proud of her hair of her head and her life. The final parting shot sees her standing with all her family, smiling at the viewer, perfectly content with who she is and what she has.
Now I haven't a clue how one goes about reading this book to groups and for a very simple reason. The book is written as a kind of call and response. Uncle Mordecai will make a statement like, "And I'm gonna tell y'all how she came up with all this nappy hair", and the various relatives will reply, "Brother, will you stop". The entire book is like this. A line or two by Mordecai, then a reply that's sometimes short and sometimes a little longer. How do you read that? Some people might have relatively little problem with the words and the stanzas. Others would definitely struggle. Should you intend to read this book for your child, sit down and go through it a couple times first. Get a feeling for the ebb and flow of the language because until you feel comfortable with what you're reading, you're not going to be able to convincingly persuade your child that this beautiful style is worth their listening.
Complimenting Carolivia Herron's words are Joe Cepeda's illustrations. The book is full of interesting details and delicate touches. Notice, if you will, that the angels that argue with the Lord that the child should not have nappy hair are, in fact, members of the girl's family. Take some time to observe how well Cepeda draws the single strand of Brenda's hair. Or, my personal favorite, the image of a girl with nappy hair sitting in Africa staring at the shocking orange sky. As she sits she is bedecked in a glorious green woven cloth, her neck, wrists, and ankles decorated. It's a moment of reflection, for both the character and the reader. It is also, in many ways, the quintessential climax of the tale. So as you can see, this is a rare rare book. You won't find many like it in your schools, libraries, and bookstores. It's difficult to write a story about being proud about something that society, as a whole, may sniff at. I think Herron and Cepeda did the best that they could and that no human being could have said what they said better. "Nappy Hair" is a beautiful success story of a book.
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