Good Hair
Age 3+
When a little girl declares that she hates her hair, her parents show her that good hair is whatever hair you have in this celebration of self-acceptance—and the diversity of beauty.
Birungi doesn’t want to go to school today. Waking up is hard, but doing her hair is harder. “I hate my hair!” she declares. “It’s just no good.” Luckily, Birungi’s parents know the secret to good hair. As they walk through town, they show her that hair can be black, gray, blond, or sometimes even blue. It can reach for the sky or fall straight to the ground, be worn in rows or curls, twirl or kink or flow or frizz. There are as many different types of hair as there are different kinds of people, and each person’s hair, no matter how it grows, needs the same special care and attention as all the other wonderful parts of them. With humor, joy, and empathy, writer Yvonne Sewankambo and illustrator Freda Chiu reach out to readers who may feel frustrated by their hair, showing the power of self-love and reveling in the unique beauty of every crown.
Creators
Yvonne Sewankambo is a Ugandan-Canadian writer and publicist based in Sydney, Australia. She has worked on campaigns across several industries, including publishing, film, television, education and the not-for-profit sector. Having lived in four countries on three different continents (and travelled to even more), Yvonne is passionate about telling stories that transcend borders.
Freda Chiu is a Sydney-based freelance illustrator, author and educator at The University of Technology Sydney.
She is inspired by her love of children’s picture books, indie comics, horror movies and good stories. She was shortlisted for the 2022 The Children’s Book Council of Australia Award for New Illustrator and also the 2022 IBBY Australia Ena Noël Award.
Reviews
Freda Chiu’s illustrations are spirited and engaging, while Yvonne Sewankambo’s story holds a message for all children and, in fact, all people, wherever they may be: to embrace their differences.
Books + Publishing
This is a lovely positive book about image, chasing down the array of different hair types which are presented everyday.
ReadPlus
An entertaining story that has much deeper meaning than first appears, Good Hair is an inclusive reminder that self-acceptance and embracing our differences are key paths to happiness – a lesson that perhaps everyone could remind themselves of once in a while! Sewankambo’s linguistic choices are rhythmic and lyrical, and Chiu’s illustrations are bright, drawing the reader into the story.
CBCA Reading Time
