Mike Dumbleton (text) and Lucinda Gifford (illustrator), Hair!, Little Book Press, July 2023, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780645401325
Like it or not, our hair can reveal a lot about who we are. And as this vibrant, rhyming book shows us, hair can not only be wildly different, but something to be proud of. Hair in patterns. Hair in patches. Hair that’s different. Hair that matches. Or in my case: Curly hair like tangled wire. Hair that stands up higher and higher.
A CBCA 2024 Notable book (Early Childhood), Hair! is a bold, refreshing celebration of who we are in all our (hair’s) glory, from styles, shapes and colours to textures, lengths and behaviour. Dumbleton’s sparse text invites important conversations about diversity, individuality, identity and acceptance. Gifford’s expressive, energetic style brings each distinctive head of hair, and the character it’s adorning, to life.
My hair has had more styles, colours and textures than Grand Designs Australia, so take it from me: This hair-raising book will bring a smile to your face. A surprise fold-out page adds to the fun.
Reviewed by Maura Pierlot
