A Single Dreadlock

Written by Xaiver Michael Campbell

Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

Groundwood Books

978-1-77306-938-8

32 pp.

Ages 3–6

September 2025 

 

For many, our hair, or lack thereof, can define us. If hair is present, it can be one of the first attributes by which people identify others: colour, length, texture, appearance. And when you're new to a community and your hair is unusual, it can unfortunately become the difference that separates rather than connects. Ask Lovie.

From A Single Dreadlock, written by Xaiver Michael Campbell, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

As a young child in Jamaica with his dads and grandma, Lovie grew up feeling like he belonged. He looked like the other kids, and his grandmother would care for his hair every Sunday before bedtime. She would grease and comb and then style it whatever way he wanted. But then he and his dads move to Newfoundland, and no one, not even his fathers, know how to tame his curly hair. In the summer, his hair is free and full and playful, dreading in one spot only. Lovie likes that. But when he goes to school, a bully pulls at the one dreadlock and makes fun of Lovie's hair. Now, instead of appreciating all the loveliness of his hair, Lovie wants to hide the dreadlock and avoid the teasing. 

From A Single Dreadlock, written by Xaiver Michael Campbell, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

When his grandmother comes for a surprise visit for Chanukkah, she reassures him that dreading is what their hair type does naturally, and that his strands are full of love. Loving the idea of his hair hugging itself in dreads, he's pleased when his grandmother gets out her hair grease and works on Lovie's hair, making perfect dreads. Proudly he displays them at school. When he's taunted once again, he tells the kids, "They're called dreadlocks, and I love them. And please don't touch my hair."(pg. 28)

From A Single Dreadlock, written by Xaiver Michael Campbell, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

Lovie's story is Xaiver Michael Campbell's story. It's one of immigration from Jamaica to Newfoundland. It's one of fitting in to a new community and self-acceptance. It's one of heritage and family, of traditions and self-love. It's a big story about hair. You just wish young Lovie didn't need to endure any intolerance of his differences, but we can be thankful that he has a grandmother with such wisdom and love to help him see the joy of his hair. A writer of both fiction and non-fiction, A Single Dreadlock is Xaiver Michael Campbell's first children's book. And it is a deeply personal one because it is one that was lived. Still, Xaiver Michael Campbell's focus is on the joy that is his hair and the help he gets from his grandmother–as well as some generous aids–rather than the bullying. By placing the emphasis on Lovie rather than his unnamed bully, Xaiver Michael Campbell lets young readers see that Lovie and how he feels about his own hair is the story.

 

The joy of Lovie's life in Jamaica and in Newfoundland is depicted in Eugenie Fernandes's paintings (acrylic on watercolour paper). She emphasizes Jamaica's tropical nature and Newfoundland's temperate climate with shades of yellow and blue, but she always makes Lovie this beacon of happiness. Eugenie Fernandes has always been able to bring the warmth of goodness into her art work (e.g., When Rabbit Was a Lion, 2023, and Finding Lucy, 2019), showing children, or animals, finding the strength to be themselves, regardless of those who cannot accept differences. Between her choice of colours and the lushness of the lines she uses to create shapes, whether mangoes, water, or hair, Eugenie Fernandes makes us feel the warmth of place and people.

 

We all have something that makes us unique. It might be a single dreadlock, or a physical attribute, or a skill. But a difference does not need to isolate us. It can be a difference that bears strength and individuality rather than inequality. I hope that Xaiver Michael Campbell always celebrates his hair in whatever style he wants now.

Aaron's Hair (rev. ed.)

Written by Robert Munsch

Illustrated by Dave Whamond

Scholastic Canada

978-1-0397-0906-5

32 pp.

Ages 3-8

January 2025 

 

It's been 25 years since Robert Munsch first told the story of Aaron's runaway hair. Originally illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel, Aaron's Hair is a timeless story of hating your hair–don't we all have bad hair days?–but like classic Munsch, the story takes an unexpected turn when Aaron's hair takes off to find an appreciative host. Now illustrated with the wacky art of Dave Whamond, Aaron's Hair has a new and updated sparkle of absurdity. 

From Aaron's Hair (rev. ed.), written by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Dave Whamond

Aaron is proud to have long hair like his dad but when his hair becomes uncooperative, Aaron shouts out that he hates it. Well, that hurts the hair's feelings, and it runs away, leaving Aaron bald. And so, the chase begins.

 

From Aaron's Hair (rev. ed.), written by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Dave Whamond

As Aaron's hair flits from the baby's head to the street, attaching itself first to a woman's tummy and then to man's behind, Aaron gives chase. The star-shaped hair continues to cause mayhem, especially when it covers a traffic policeman's face, resulting in a traffic jam of epic proportions. There are still a few more stops before both Aaron and his hair find their way back to each other and even find a way forward.

 

The absurdity of Robert Munsch's stories has always been in that germ of reality, here in the conflict between hair and bearer of said hair. It's that struggle to style it, tame it, keep it out of food, and more. But Robert Munsch makes that struggle into a crazy action adventure that will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter. With Dave Whamond's illustrations, the wackiness is heightened, giving more laughs as Aaron's hair misbehaves, as the boy panics at the potential for long-term baldness, and as the community becomes involved in the ensuing chaos. Follow the escape, the pursuit, and the confusion through expressive faces, topsy-turvy scenes, and the unexpected details including Dave Whamond's ubiquitous squirrel, bunny and bird from his popular character in his Reality Check syndicated comic.

From Aaron's Hair (rev. ed.), written by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Dave Whamond

Next time you're having a bad hair day, think about Aaron and his unruly hair, and thank goodness for an occasion split end, frizz or cowlick that reassures that you've still got hair on your head. After all, the alternative can be outrageously chaotic,  even if uproariously funny.

My Mad Hair Day

Written and illustrated by Nathalie Dion

Groundwood Books

978-1-77306-511-3

44 pp.

Ages 3-6

September 2021

 

While many admire voluminous hair, Malie thinks her tangled mess of golden locks are a curse, especially when she tries to tame it. But, somehow, through a series of unfortunate events, Malie finds a way to appreciate the hair she has.

 

From My Mad Hair Day by Nathalie Dion

Combing it or hiding it under her cap just doesn't work for Malie. However, as much as she'd like to hide away in her closet, her mother has other ideas, sending the child out on some errands.

From My Mad Hair Day by Nathalie Dion

Contending with the wind that carries her billowing hair away and the rain that frizzes it out, Malie trudges through the town on her errands. Along the way, her hair gathers a menagerie of items as it bumps into them or as they fall into or choose to enter it. There are cupcakes, birds, a lamb, a grand piano and even a child on a tricycle.

From My Mad Hair Day by Nathalie Dion

Overwhelmed by the burden of her tresses, Malie takes a much-needed time out in a park and awakens to a new appreciation of her hair, courtesy of the cache within.

 

From My Mad Hair Day by Nathalie Dion

Of course My Mad Hair Day is a little silly but it's based in a whole lot of reality for those with wildly curly hair, especially if it's also long. I see from her head shots online that author-illustrator Nathalie Dion too has lovely blonde curls and I suspect that she wrote this, her first picture book as author and illustrator, from personal experience. Like a tall tale, Nathalie Dion starts with a germ of reality, that of dealing with unmanageable hair, and blows it up to epic proportions, from the child just trying to comb her hair to absorbing the shock of a falling piano and a lamb confusing the curls for its mother. Then with her watercolour and digital art, Nathalie Dion bolsters that wackiness with extraordinary hair that monopolizes the scenes as it does Malie's life. (That one illustration, seen above, of Malie's mane extending the length of three houses is very telling.) I'll bet this is exactly what children with long curly hair appreciate each morning as they struggle to tame their locks, undoubtedly often throwing their hands up in defeat. 

But Nathalie Dion does not leave Malie defeated. She doesn't let her wallow in her copious hair and frazzle her into gloom. Instead, a "time-out" helps the child gain a fresh perspective on the marvel that is her hair and reach a new level of self-acceptance, something most of us need to learn for ourselves.

• • • • • • •

A French language edition, titled L'ébouriffée, has also been released this month from Dominique et compagnie.

The Haircut

Written by Theo Heras

Illustrated by Renné Benoit

Pajama Press

978-1-77279-095-6

24 pp.

Ages 1-3

May 2020

There's probably a lot of trepidation with respect to haircuts right now as many barbershops and salons are closed and people are taking on the task themselves. Fortunately, most of of have a history of haircuts and know what to expect, even if we ourselves don't know what to do. But imagine a toddler who has never had a haircut. That first haircut can generate much confusion and even distress for the unknown but Theo Heras and Renné Benoit's newest picture book, The Haircut, will comfort any child and probably a parent or two, as a young boy is taken to the barbershop for the first time.

From The Haircut by Theo Heras, illus. by Renné Benoit

This little boy may not know he needs a haircut but he does notice how it falls in his face when he plays. Even as he tries to keep it out of his eyes, it again falls. No wonder it's decided that it's time for a haircut.

From The Haircut by Theo Heras, illus. by Renné Benoit

From The Haircut by Theo Heras, illus. by Renné Benoit

Off goes child and father hand in hand to the barbershop marked with its red, white and blue pole. Of course the boy wonders if it will hurt. There are after all dangerous scissors involved. But, with an animal print cape, a chair that goes up high and his dad holding his little hand, the child is reassured, especially when he gets a lollipop and no longer has long hair getting in his eyes.

From The Haircut by Theo Heras, illus. by Renné Benoit

What a wonderful book to read with toddlers (and then get them reading for themselves) who will be experiencing their first haircut. It speaks to them, not their parents who think their hair is too long or wants it styled or thinks it's time. It's time because the little boy's hair keeps falling in his eyes and gets in the way of his play. He knows it's not convenient so they know it too.

Theo Heras, along with illustrator Renné Benoit, has taken children through a number of common childhood experiences (e.g., Hat On, Hat Off; Baby Cakes; and Where's Bunny?) in these uniquely presented books. The padded cover with rounded edges and extra-heavy pages are far nicer than board books usually aimed at the youngest of readers and are a treat to handle and to read to young children. The Haircut is similarly comforting and informing. That book cover portrait that focuses on the child and his glorious tresses and doubtful face invites the reader in, and Renné Benoit's watercolour and digital illustrations are similarly engaging, both uncluttered and complete. Like Theo Heras's words, Renné Benoit has illustrated The Haircut for the young child, though everyone can appreciate the book.

Whether a parent wants to help a child to prepare for that first haircut or to reminisce about that first experience, The Haircut is there for an snuggly read.