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This Hair Belongs

Author JaNay Brown-Wood
Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson
Hardcover
$19.99 US
Astra Publishing House | Astra Young Readers
9.5"W x 11.32"H x 0.4"D   | 16 oz | 32 per carton
On sale Jan 13, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9781662620867
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
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With lyrical verse and dazzling illustrations, this joyful ode to Black hair will empower readers ages 4–8 to celebrate the historical, cultural, and emotional significance of their natural hair.

From the intricate coils of kings and queens to the cornrowed maps to freedom of African Americans, This Hair Belongs is a heartfelt poetic tribute to Black hair throughout history. Told through powerful verse, stunning illustrations, and fascinating back matter, this Black history picture book pays tribute to the African origins of Black hairstyles and will remind young Black readers that their hair is magical and beautiful and belongs. 

JaNay Brown-Wood and Erin K. Robinson deftly weave African and American history into this powerful children's picture book about Black hair, making it an essential nonfiction title honoring Black cultural heritage.
★ “An ode to natural Black hair and those who have the honor of wearing it. 'This hair' does, and has done, many things, according to Wood’s poetic text... Neither Brown-Wood’s text nor Robinson’s art tells a single story here: Both are busy immersing readers in a rich tapestry of Black history and culture through rhythmic spoken word and layered, detailed art showcasing lush colors, gorgeous patterns, and an incredible variety of hairstyles. The verse goes straight to the heart, where it takes up residence, while the illustrations offer a loving display of the inheritance of Black hair. At crucial moments, the text highlights 'you,' the child reader, enveloping young people in a sense of belonging and pride, inspiring them to understand their relationship with their hair in new and exciting ways... Myriad books have explored Black hair; this one is among the very best. This testament to Black beauty is destined to be a classic and a favorite; everyone needs this book.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"With lyrical, simile-studded prose and crisp, radiant illustrations, Brown-Wood and Robinson craft a powerful portrait of Black hair as artistry, inheritance, and pride... Textural jewel-toned visuals portray Black hair as both crown and connection across time: 'This hair belongs in the past, the now, the future, in the real and the imagined, in the myth and in the legend.'"—Publishers Weekly
© Mickaela Colvin
JaNay Brown-Wood, PhD, is an award-winning children’s author, poet, educator, scholar, and a former professor of Early Childhood Education and Child Development. She is the author of Imani’s Moon, which won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year Award, and Grandma’s Tiny House. She currently lives in Sacramento, CA. View titles by JaNay Brown-Wood
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator in the News and Documentary category. Trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art, Erin's illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, among others. Erin has lived in Kenya and these days splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC. View titles by Erin K. Robinson

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About

With lyrical verse and dazzling illustrations, this joyful ode to Black hair will empower readers ages 4–8 to celebrate the historical, cultural, and emotional significance of their natural hair.

From the intricate coils of kings and queens to the cornrowed maps to freedom of African Americans, This Hair Belongs is a heartfelt poetic tribute to Black hair throughout history. Told through powerful verse, stunning illustrations, and fascinating back matter, this Black history picture book pays tribute to the African origins of Black hairstyles and will remind young Black readers that their hair is magical and beautiful and belongs. 

JaNay Brown-Wood and Erin K. Robinson deftly weave African and American history into this powerful children's picture book about Black hair, making it an essential nonfiction title honoring Black cultural heritage.

Praise

★ “An ode to natural Black hair and those who have the honor of wearing it. 'This hair' does, and has done, many things, according to Wood’s poetic text... Neither Brown-Wood’s text nor Robinson’s art tells a single story here: Both are busy immersing readers in a rich tapestry of Black history and culture through rhythmic spoken word and layered, detailed art showcasing lush colors, gorgeous patterns, and an incredible variety of hairstyles. The verse goes straight to the heart, where it takes up residence, while the illustrations offer a loving display of the inheritance of Black hair. At crucial moments, the text highlights 'you,' the child reader, enveloping young people in a sense of belonging and pride, inspiring them to understand their relationship with their hair in new and exciting ways... Myriad books have explored Black hair; this one is among the very best. This testament to Black beauty is destined to be a classic and a favorite; everyone needs this book.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"With lyrical, simile-studded prose and crisp, radiant illustrations, Brown-Wood and Robinson craft a powerful portrait of Black hair as artistry, inheritance, and pride... Textural jewel-toned visuals portray Black hair as both crown and connection across time: 'This hair belongs in the past, the now, the future, in the real and the imagined, in the myth and in the legend.'"—Publishers Weekly

Author

© Mickaela Colvin
JaNay Brown-Wood, PhD, is an award-winning children’s author, poet, educator, scholar, and a former professor of Early Childhood Education and Child Development. She is the author of Imani’s Moon, which won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year Award, and Grandma’s Tiny House. She currently lives in Sacramento, CA. View titles by JaNay Brown-Wood
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator in the News and Documentary category. Trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art, Erin's illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, among others. Erin has lived in Kenya and these days splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC. View titles by Erin K. Robinson

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