An affirming, heartfelt picture book about a Native American boy proudly growing out his hair and basking in the knowledge that braids are beautiful.

Each morning, Dad brushes the knots from his son’s long hair to braid it. The boy winces at the tugging, and at school he's teased for his braid. But he remembers the stories of how his father and grandpa were forced to cut their hair and forbidden from practicing their traditions when they were young, and how they fought to make it possible for him to wear his hair long. Although it can hurt, having long hair ultimately makes him feel brave and strong.

This powerful picture book by author-illustrator Weshoyot Alvitre examines the traumatic history of colonization and reclaims Native pride in long hair, delivering a tender father-son story that's perfect for fans of Hair Love and Love in the Library.
© Hekwipa Alvitre
Weshoyot Alvitre is a Tongva and Scottish comicbook artist and illustrator. She is the illustrator of the picture book At the Mountain’s Base (written by Traci Sorell), which received the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award, and of Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories (written by Dan SaSuWeh Jones), which was named a 2021 Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Anthology. She resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. Visit her online at weshoyot.com. View titles by Weshoyot Alvitre
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About

An affirming, heartfelt picture book about a Native American boy proudly growing out his hair and basking in the knowledge that braids are beautiful.

Each morning, Dad brushes the knots from his son’s long hair to braid it. The boy winces at the tugging, and at school he's teased for his braid. But he remembers the stories of how his father and grandpa were forced to cut their hair and forbidden from practicing their traditions when they were young, and how they fought to make it possible for him to wear his hair long. Although it can hurt, having long hair ultimately makes him feel brave and strong.

This powerful picture book by author-illustrator Weshoyot Alvitre examines the traumatic history of colonization and reclaims Native pride in long hair, delivering a tender father-son story that's perfect for fans of Hair Love and Love in the Library.

Author

© Hekwipa Alvitre
Weshoyot Alvitre is a Tongva and Scottish comicbook artist and illustrator. She is the illustrator of the picture book At the Mountain’s Base (written by Traci Sorell), which received the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award, and of Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories (written by Dan SaSuWeh Jones), which was named a 2021 Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Anthology. She resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. Visit her online at weshoyot.com. View titles by Weshoyot Alvitre

Photos

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