An Enchanted Hair Tale

"An Enchanted Hair Tale," by Alexis De Veaux, features black-and-white illustrations by Cheryl Hanna. Together they tell the story of Sudan, a young boy who is teased and marginalized by some people because of his wild dreadlocks. But a magical encounter with a colorful troupe of performers helps give Sudan a new perspective on his problem. This is a fun book with an uplifting and valuable message. The versatile De Veaux creates a playfully poetic text that makes effective use of rhyme and alliteration. At their liveliest her words really dance across the page. I love her description of Sudan's hair: "It giggled when he talked/ and roared when he walked/ and often sprouted/ wings." The text is perfectly complemented by Hanna's illustrations. Hanna combines a sweaty, down-to-earth quality with many surreal, fantastic flourishes. Her illustrations are full of clever and delightful details. This is a book to share with both children and adults.