The Good Hair Day

Starred review from May 15, 2023
Noah wants many things for his upcoming birthday, but his greatest desire is “long, beautiful, wavy hair.” He doesn’t ask if he can grow his hair out, however—possibly because “some people say mean things about men with long hair,” or maybe because he doesn’t see long hair represented on many boys. Fluid digital illustrations by Yang focus on domestic and community scenes—showing the tender way Noah braids his sister’s hair and strokes his mother’s—while Trimmer’s narrative spotlights through longing internality Noah’s understanding of what he wants alongside the idea that he “just didn’t think he was allowed to ask for it.” Following a difficult haircut, a birthday gift from an observant loved one conveys the indescribable impact of being seen and supported. Noah and his family are portrayed with brown and tan skin; Noah’s mother uses a wheelchair. Conversation starters conclude. Ages 4–8.

May 15, 2023
Grades K-2 Noah's birthday is coming up, and there's one gift he wants more than anything else: ""long, beautiful, wavy hair."" A gorgeous double-page spread shows Noah imagining the glory with exaggerated locks streaming into every corner of the page. His hair is short, of course, in keeping with society's expectations of boys and men, and it's a sense of shame that prevents him from asking to grow it out. When he heads to his birthday haircut, he feels forced to let the barber trim him down to scalp-short, and while--for now--he doesn't get the hair of his dreams, his birthday is rescued by the next best thing: a long, beautiful, wavy wig. Noah's sweet story is a tidy example of how natural desires of self-expression are squashed by the arbitrary rules and roles of our toxic gender binary. Kids will have zero problem relating, and adults may find themselves unexpectedly moved, too, by the undeniable truths on display.

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Starred review from March 1, 2023
Noah is a boy who longs for lengthy locks, but will others support his wish? As his birthday approaches, brown-skinned Noah begins dropping not-so-subtle hints about the gifts he's hoping for: a telescope, a toy robot, and crafting beads. But what Noah wants most is something he can't bring himself to admit--something that his sister and mom have but not his dad, his grandpa, his uncle, the mailman, or almost any other boy in class. What Noah desperately wants is something "he just didn't think he was allowed to ask for": long hair. Noah's longing becomes apparent to his observant family; they notice when Noah breaks down after a buzzcut and when he wears a T-shirt on his head to resemble hair cascading down his shoulders. In honor of his unspoken birthday wish, Noah's family (including his lighter-skinned, mustached father; his brown-skinned, wheelchair-using mother; and his brown-skinned sister) gives him his first wig. The child's joy is moving, captured in Yang's vivacious images, which glow with warm colors and lively details. This gesture of celebration has beautiful consequences. One year later, Noah happily sports shoulder-length locks, which he continues to grow. Combined with backmatter offering helpful "conversation starters" around "gender, identity, and self-expression," this tender validation of one boy's emotional experiences around his gender presentation is a valuable, affirming tale for all children. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A heartwarming story that's ultimately about far more than hair. (Picture book. 4-10)

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Starred review from October 27, 2023

PreS-Gr 3-When it comes to certain desired birthday presents, Noah is assertive and communicative. But regarding his actual birthday wish (a head of long, wavy hair), he is less sure of how to verbalize his needs. Noah imagines what life would look like with the coif he pines for: An undulating mane that could unlock adventures, magic, and joy. Will Noah find the words to tell his family what he truly longs for? Yang depicts Noah's imagined curls roaming around and through pages, moving as if though underwater, giving Noah's indigo and jewel-toned daydreams a tranquil, yet majestic quality. Noah's facial expression on the last page, one of pure joy and self-realization, is another artistic triumph. An affirming, supportive community sets The Good Hair Day apart from the growing number of picture books regarding gender presentation and expression. Whereas other protagonists have been met with some form of cruelty and ignorance from their fictional caregivers and classmates, Noah is presented only with understanding and tenderness. With black hair and tan skin like most of his family, Noah has an inner dialogue regarding his prospective tresses, where he vaguely remembers an unkind statement said about men with long hair; this is by far the harshest scenario presented and very realistic. The back matter provides gentle and clear conversation starters which will prove indispensable for educators and families seeking vocabulary to use when discussing gender, identity, and self-expression. VERDICT A necessary and vital purchase for all collections that serve elementary school communities.-Ingrid Conley-Abrams

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