School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--In rhythmic text and hilarious art, Grant and Thomas put boots on the ground in a barber shop where absolutely everyone has an opinion. At ten o'clock in the morning, a Black mother and child walk into a shop called Chrissy's Barber for "The freshest fade up on the block!" It's two o'clock before they emerge from an odyssey of hairstyles, perhaps created by Chrissy herself, cheered on by the Greek chorus of other customers: "How 'bout a trim that tucks it in?/ A frizzy 'fro that's neat and round./ Or parted with a parting comb and cornrows braided to the ground." Spikes? Gel? Puffs? This goes on for pages, until the beleaguered child and barber have clearly had enough! Vivid use of color and expressive faces show the eagerness of the onlookers, the exasperation and woe of the key players (some of the spreads are explosive), and the joy when the child, in a yellow skirt and very fresh fade, shaved up the sides and squared across the top, heads out the door. The neighborhood shop-around-the corner mood is perfect; the triumph of getting just what you want is served up with precision. Children will love poring over the pictures, while adults will feel their blood pressure rising. Included is a gallery of hairstyles that range from locs and rows to waves and 'fros, on children with skin colors that are an array of light to deepest brown, including a child with vitiligo, a condition that also appears on a character inside the book. VERDICT A winner-takes-all glimpse of one of childhood's major milestones, taking agency over fashion choices, personality, and style.--Kimberly Olson Fakih
Publisher's Weekly Review
A Black child narrator in search of a new look for "my bushy, brownish, biggish hair" only wants one thing at the neighborhood barbershop: "THE FRESHEST FADE UP ON THE BLOCK!" But everyone at the bustling establishment has opinions about a fetching new hairstyle: one by one, they suggest an Afro, cornrows, "a tangly tousled top," and "waves.... Or high-top fades." In the end, the child gets their way, asking for more off the top until receiving a "clean-cut, classic curly crop. THE FRESHEST FADE UP ON THE BLOCK." In playful, rhyming lines that give voice to a community's fond, well-meaning chorus, Grant (My Hair Is Beautiful) pays tribute to the beautiful versatility of Black hair while emphasizing the importance of a kid staying true to themself. Giving special attention to texture and curl pattern, saturated art by Thomas (Stacey's Extraordinary Words) changes perspective across each spread, picturing brown-skinned barbershop employees and patrons of many shades wearing a variety of hairstyles. It's an affirming, communal take on a routine barbershop visit, starring a cool, collected child who knows their mind. Ages 3--7. Author's agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Chad W. Beckerman, CAT Agency. (Nov.)
Booklist Review
The protagonist of this picture book has long, beautiful curls, but today she wants to change her look. She and her mother head to Chrissy's Barbershop, which is bustling. The girl takes a seat in her barber's chair and announces that she wants the flyest, freshest fade. In hilarious, boisterous barbershop style, everyone tries to get her to change her mind, suggesting cornrows, waves, and even spikes. She's overwhelmed, but she stays the course and ends up with the cutest curly fade that her barber can provide. Thomas' illustrations are as fresh as the girl's new look, pulling in vibrant colors and a graffiti-mural style. Details within the pictures offer young readers clues to help decipher the simple, gently rhyming text. The unisex barbershop, staffed by many women barbers, provides a noteworthy setting, as this reflects the growing number of women becoming barbers, often specializing in children's hair. As the Crown Act raises awareness of a person's right to wear their natural hair and to have ownership over their own bodies, this book can help adults have conversations on these topics with children. More broadly, this book is perfect for kids learning about self-expression, confidence, and decision-making, and the energetic illustrations and humorous story line provide a great reading experience for any child, whether they are familiar with barbershops or not.
