Again, it is something that really shouldn’t give me all sorts of touch-feely emotions, but because it isn’t often seen in children’s picture books, it does. And although this may seem trivial to some, it made it more powerful for me, particularly this illustration at the end, where Harrison makes it clear that mom and dad are married. We don’t know it until the end (hence the spoiler alert), but mom coming home is the reason she wants to make sure her hair is perfect. That in itself is not something you see often in kids’ books, which is partly why I loved it. Daddy tells her her hair is beautiful and is clearly involved in his daughter’s day to day life. Secondly, I love love love the relationship between father and child that is illustrated in this book. From the expression on the character’s faces to the detail of dad’s tattoo, it is all beautifully done. First, I love just about everything Vashti Harrison illustrates, and this is no exception. SPOILER ALERT: There are a couple of major reasons why I think this book is outstanding, but one of them does spoil the ending of the book. However, dad wakes up and after some failed attempts, together they do their best to create the perfect hairstyle. She’s got a special day coming up, and decides that she wants to do her hair herself, especially since her dad has been working so hard recently, and he must be tired. Cherry, is about a young girl who loves her natural hair, and even describes it as doing magic tricks. Today however, I am inspired by a new book that highlights some daddy/daughter “hair love”. I’ve gotten over it, especially since she can at least put her own hair in a ponytail now, but I was slightly bitter about it for a while.

Al Roker learned how to do his daughter’s hair when she was young, but the other co-hosts had stories of themselves or their spouses trying and failing to style their child’s hair, which is also where my husband falls when it comes to doing my daughter’s hair. On Memorial Day I was watching the 3rd hour of the Today Show and they were having a conversation about fathers styling their daughter’s hair.

Matthew cherry books