There is nothing better than teaching a child to love themselves for who they are and make them proud of their beauty, on the inside and outside.
We at WatchTheYard.com have compiled a list of 10 award-winning books that teach little girls to love their curly natural hair. All of these books feature African-American girls with natural hair as the main characters and are amazing at helping little girls understand how special and beautiful their curls are.
Whether you are buying these books for your personal library, gifting them to a relative or friend’s children, or bringing them to school, these books will be sure to make that special little girls day!
But before you see the gallery of books, check out these statistics on reading:
- The more types of reading materials there are in the home, the higher students are in reading proficiency, according to the Educational Testing Service.
- Twenty-six percent of children who were read to three or four times in the last week by a family member recognized all letters of the alphabet. This is compared to 14 percent of children who were read to less frequently.
- The NCES1 also reported that children who were read to frequently are also more likely to:
- count to 20, or higher than those who were not (60% vs. 44%)
- write their own names (54% vs. 40%)
- read or pretend to read (77% vs. 57%)
Check out our suggested list of books by clicking on the arrows below!
“Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s gorgeous collages breathe new life into this classic tale, capturing Rapunzel’s striking beauty and the lush African setting a new home for this story with wonderful details such as Rapunzel’s long dreadlocks and the prince’s noble steed, a zebra. Readers will delight in the vibrant illustrations, thrill at the appearances of the frightening sorceress, and chime in with the familiar line “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair,” as they follow this well-loved tale.”
– Amazon
Check out our suggested list of books by clicking on the arrows below!
“This whimsical, evocative story about a girl named Keyana encourages African-American children to feel good about their special hair and be proud of their heritage. A BlackBoard Children’s Book of the Year. Full-color illustrations.”
– Amazon
“Seven-year-old Lena is going to paint a picture of herself. She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades.
Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.”
– Amazon
“Lola has really really REALLY big hair, much bigger than the other kids at her school, but that doesn’t stop her from telling anyone who will listen just how much she LOVES her hair! It´s not always easy being a kid. Designed to boost self-esteem and build confidence, this beautifully illustrated picture book is aimed at boys and girls who may need a reminder from time to time that it’s okay to look different from the other kids at their school. “Big Hair, Don’t Care” is available in English, French, and German.”
– Amazon
“Emi is a creative 7-year-old girl with a BIG imagination. In this story Emi shares a positive message about her Curly, Coily, Cotton Candy Hair and what she likes most about it. The vibrant illustrations and fun story teach basic natural hair care techniques and tips in a playful and memorable way.”
– Amazon
“In “Color My Fro”, 31 big-haired fairies, mermaids, warriors, models, cheerleaders, and fierce divas grace the pages of this coloring book celebrating the beauty of black women and natural hair. At each turn of the page, a new natural hair inspired illustration greets you.
Fun for any occasion, “Color My Fro” is the perfect stocking stuffer for natural hair lovers of any age so grab your crayons, colored pencils, and your afro pick and get started!”
– Amazon
“High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves–inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what! Here’s a little girl who knows what really matters.
At once silly and serious, Karen Beaumont’s joyous rhyming text and David Catrow’s wild illustrations unite in a book that is sassy, soulful–and straight from the heart.”
– Amazon
“Now in Dragonfly: a lively, empowering story about Brenda’s knotted-up, twisted, nappy hair and how it got to be that way! Told in the African-American “call and response” tradition, this story leaps off the page, along with vibrant illustrations by Joe Cepeda.”
– Amazon
Winner of a Parenting Reading Magic Award
“Happy Hair is a call and response picture book that promotes positive self-esteem and hair love to girls of all ages! Happy Hair covers different shades and hair types all while being fun and fashionable! This book is the foundation to building Happy Hair.”
– Amazon
“All Princesses wear crowns but the don’t all wear their hair the same way underneath. They wear Braids, Blowouts, Afros and Twists! And every Princess loves her Princess Hair!”
– Amazon
“Same Difference is a charming book for young readers (4-8 year olds) that addresses the sensitive and sometime divisive issues of beauty and identity. It has a lyrical, upbeat air that begs to be read aloud and offers an engaging rhyme pattern for young children. Vivid illustrations capture the spirit and innocence of Lida and Lisa, two first cousins who find themselves at odds with each other over their physical differences. With the help of their wise grandmother, the girls soon realize that their bond is deeper than what they see and our differences are what make us beautiful.”
– Amazon