But at the center of this, is the different, rich hues of brown skin that remain the main focus, as Cherry and Harrison work together to create a book immersed in beauty and power. The bright, effervescent colors that Harrison uses, like orange, blue, and purple, pop through. Fulled with so much warmth and love, every page reads like a deceleration of Black beauty, and with the colorful illustrations of Vashti Harrison, Hair Love is brought to life. Zuri’s dad is a doting, loving father who has so much love to give, and like a strong vessel, he pours every drop into Zuri’s hair, and with the right amount of patience and hard work, they make the perfect daddy, and daughter team, and turn Zuri’s hair into the picture of perfection. With beautiful, beaded braids, she is the prettiest princess in the kingdom, and with two big, afro puffs, placed ever so perfectly on the top of her head, she is a strong, confident superhero. With her many different hairstyles, her imagination takes her on endless journeys.

She is anything she wants to be, and is free from societal boundaries. It makes her happy! It makes her confident! It allows her to be her! Waking up in the morning, her big, messy afro, encompasses around her head like a shining halo, and it is the first thing that Zuri is excited to see and touch. When you were a little Black girl, growing up, did you embrace your beauty? Did you love the deep richness of your blackness and the uniqueness of your hair? Do you remember playing with every kink and coil that sprouted from your scalp, in a meticulous fashion? Did your hair become your best friend, a companion, that saw you through your best and worst days? If you were anything like the imaginative young Zuri, then the answer is yes! In Matthew Cherry’s children’s book Hair Love, Cherry writes about a “hair-rific” journey that a little girl named Zuri and her dad go on, to turn her hair into something extra special and magical for a big day.

The book hair love