Bedtime Bonnet
by Nancy Redd
illustrated by Nneka Myers
Random House, 2020. 36 pages.
Starred Review
Review written June 5, 2020, from a library book
Here’s a delightful family story about an young African American girl and her family – and how they do their hair at night.
The first line is,
In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!
The girl introduces us to all the family members, who all do their hair a different way. Her brother “twists and tightens each of his locs.” Her sister, mother, father, and grandma all have a different hair routine, and then Mommy braids the girl’s hair. But Grandpa doesn’t do anything to his hair, because he doesn’t have any.
There’s one problem, though. When her braids are all set and it’s time for bed, she can’t find her bedtime bonnet.
I need it to protect my hair from tangles and lint while I sleep.
She searches high and low for it and asks everyone in the family. We notice that all the other members of the family have a way of protecting their own hair at night.
When the hiding place of the bonnet is discovered, everyone gets to laugh.
At the end of the book, we get to see the family setting out in the morning with everyone’s hair looking great.
Yes, this book works as a window into something I didn’t know much about – how to care for African American hair. Yes, this book will be nice as a mirror for kids who are familiar with this kind of routine. But if that were all it did, I’d skip writing a review.
Bedtime Bonnet offers a just plain delightful story for preschool and early elementary readers. There are colorful, warm pictures of a loving family, complete with a silly Grandpa. There’s a situation of something important lost, and then found in a funny way. I was just completely charmed by this delightful picture book. When I finally get to do in-person storytimes again, I’d like to try out this book with an audience.
Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Books/bedtime_bonnet.html
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Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.
Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.
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