Magic Like That

by Samara Cole Doyon, Geneva Bowers (Illustrator)

While her mother works magic styling her hair, a young Black girl recalls how her hairstyles can reflect the natural world and show that her hair can be elegant, mischievous, or whimsical.

Genres: Picture Books, African American, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Library Binding

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

Samara Cole Doyon is both a second--generation Haitian American and a deeply rooted Mainer, with half of the roots of her family tree reaching generations deep into the soil of the Pine Tree State. She is a freelance writer, teacher, wife, and mother. She has been a regular contributor at Black Girl In Maine Media and has been featured in the "Deep Water" poetry column of the Portland Press Herald.

Reviews

[Kris Patrick]

Add to a growing list of books celebrating Black hair- a good thing!

[Shari (Shira)]

Where were these books when I was a little girl? Where were they when my daughter was a little girl? Thanks for the recommendation Kris!

[Halina Hetman]

Мама заплітає коси дівчинці, а та згадує, скільки цікавих зачісок мама робила їй раніше. Мені подобається впевненість та поетичність тексту про красу волосся, проте чи не призводить це до самолюбовання? А якщо призводить, чи воно погане?

[Kaprisha]

Was souch a cute read loved it

[createitlibrarian (Amanda)]

An absolutely beautiful book!

[Sass Linneken]

This is a beautiful poem that offers such a wonderful model of self-love. The writing and illustrations are gorgeous. I got a copy for my grandkids for Christmas and can't wait to give it to them.

[Mindy Alyse Weiss]

I enjoyed seeing how the hair styles Mom created for the main character made her feel magical. The text is beautiful and lyrical, and the illustrations helped me feel the magic even more. My favorites are the shining stars that remind me a bit of flowers.

So many people want hair different than what they have. I hope this book will help children embrace the magic of their own hair.

[Jillian]

Beautiful! Pair with Stella's Stellar Hair, Hair Love, Happy Hair, My Hair is a Garden, etc.

[Emily Elfering]

The book Magic Like That was recommended to be on a blog post, called the Lee and Low, that highlights diverse children's literature. I have also seen images of this cover but had never had the chance to read it. This book creates a great opportunity to dive into the mirrors and windows that exist for Black children. As an educator I believe that every child should have the opportunity to see someone that looks like them in literature. I also believe that children should be exposed to people that are different than themselves. This book does just that. The story also has a message of self confidence and how it can be so powerful.

This culturally specific book includes a main character that is shown in an empowering and positive way. This is shown not only through the words in the book but in the pictures as well. Black culture is central to this book. This contributes to the understanding of readers own and other's cultures. In addition, Samara Cole Doyon, the author of this book, has an insider perspective. She grew up and currently looks like the characters depicted in this book therefore it is telling an authentic story. This creates a valuable contribution to this type of literature. This book also gives an opportunity to teach about comparisons especially similes. The author compares the main characters hair to many different things using like or as. This could also be used as a mentor text to include that type of writing, specifically comparison with similes, into their writing. Overall, this is an empowering and uplifting story that is written for younger students.

[Stephanie Bange]

Add this to the growing collection about Black hair for girls.

A mother styles her young daughter's hair every day. Each day she leaves the house with a different hair style and compares it to things she has seen in nature, using the same adjective.
Ex. Tall and strong, my hair stands
like regal pine trees,
silently guarding the pristine peace
of mountainside lakes.
My hair is majestic like that.
Other adjectives include mischievous, stunning, mesmerizing, elegant, whimsical, strong, and fresh. She summarizes by stating her mother's hairstyling can change her into many different things.

Though the free verse poetry has no patterns, Doyon's poetic text is full of great vocabulary words that are adjectives. Digital illustrations by Geneva Bowers are lively and beautiful, full of color and personality.

Use this in units studying self-esteem, personal hygiene, and literary devices (adjectives).
Recommended for grades PreSchool-grade 2.

[Christina]

Magic Like That might be my favorite Black hair love story full of great imagery and stunning artwork.

In this visually stunning story, the mom is doing her daughter’s (MC) hair. The main character thinks about how her hair will look amazing once her mom finishes because her hair is capable of so many magical things.

I liked the story but I LOVED Geneva Bowers’ illustrations. The cover is so cute and beautifully done. All of the illustrations are picturesque!

I loved that on each page her hair is styled differently, emphasizing the different ways the main character’s hair is magic, majestic, mesmerizing, and more. I love how much pride, strength, and love she derives from her hair. She feels powerful and unstoppable because her hair is magic like that.

I really enjoyed Magic Like That and would have loved to have this book growing up.

[Margaret]

This is a lovely book that's celebrating Black hair, the effort that goes into styling it, plus creativity and imagination.
I'm not sure about the target age; I think young children would enjoy the illustrations, but may struggle to attend to the words. It's not a bad thing to have a "stretch" book on your shelf, though, and you do have to encounter any word for the first time before you know it.





...
In response to another reviewer (who only accepts comments from friended accounts, for whatever that's worth):
I do not see how celebrating hair (and specifically after a lot of effort to style) is going to make a kid think they're "the best thing since sliced toast". There's imagination about imagining self as a queen or an astronaut, sure, but that's still not self-aggrandizing.

[McKenzie Richardson]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A gorgeous, lush celebration of Black hair and self-confidence. Told through lyrical narration, a young girl shares some of her favorite hairstyles as she waits for her mother to reveal her latest creation.

I loved the different facets expressed through different hair styles, from whimsical to majestic, mischievous to elegant.

Explore starry skies, windswept deserts, and majestic mountains in the stunning illustrations. Full of color and vivid images, each page is so beautiful.

A wonderful story full of joy, self-love, and confidence with gorgeous visuals and lovely poetic narration. A truly beautiful read.

[Viviane Elbee]

I really loved the poetry in this book, which has plenty of joy and pride, and kind of reminds me of the book Eyes That Kiss in the Corners with its lyrical comparisons and empowering statements.
The young heroine of the story describes all the fantastic different qualities of her hair (in different hairstyles) and how it makes her feel like she can be anything. There's loving tenderness between the mom, who is styling her daughter's hair, and the daughter.
Also, the illustrations are terrific!

Great for kids who love books about hairstyles, and also great for kids who like lyrical, poetic books with imagination.

[Rose Rosetree]

A young Black girl learns to love her hair, even if some skill and patience are required to bring out the full gorgeousness.

The heroine discovers much about the beauty of her hair. For instance:

"My hair is mischievous like that."
And
"My hair is stunning like that."

If you like girly-girly books, I think you'll love this one. I did.

FIVE STARS to author Samara Cole Doyon and illustrator Geneva Bowers.

[Sandra]

Pretty damn adorable. Positive and energetic with a dash about the need for patience. Nice integration of new words too!

Thanks to lee and low and edelweiss for the arc, this one is a library must have.

[C L]

The pictures are beautiful! I loved the different styles and what they represented. The metaphors and similes match the illustrations. The surprise was the ending of how she can magically be different people.

[Johnea]

I love reading all of these books about hair representation and the positivity of different types of hair! It empowers me to remember that my hair is normal, professional and it is beautiful (maybe not right now because I rolled out of bed. But I think you get the point)!

[Pam]

This young girl takes readers through all the ways her hair is amazing. Each page spread shows a different hairstyle and how it makes her feel. Wonderful emphasis on feeling special and confident. The artwork is stunning and encourages readers too.

[Liz]

As she waits for her mom to style her hair, she remembers how magical her hair is with all the different styles it can have. A celebration of natural Black hair. It reminded me of Stella's Stellar Hair, but it's more poetic for a slightly older audience.

[Kristen]

In this celebration of Black Girl Magic, a young girl finds confidence and excitement in the versatility of her natural hair and the way her different hairstyles reflect the natural world.
This will inspire young readers of all textures to believe in the beauty of their natural selves.

[Binxie]

What a wonderful celebration of hair! Vivid illustrations and spot on descriptors of all types of hair styles makes this a powerful, uplifting, affirming message to everyone.

[Beth]

A book filled with all kinds of Black Girl Magic as a young girl admires all the ways her hair is adaptable as it is styled by her mama.

[Kim]

This is a simply beautiful book, showing the magic of different Black girl hairstyles and how the power and wonder of nature are within Black girls.

[Y.Poston]

Love this hair book! Gorgeous pictures & great uplift !

[Angie]

Lovely narration and such beautiful illustrations!

[Rebecca Anne]

All the different ways this girl can magically have her hair styled.

[Jo Oehrlein]

The girl thinks of her hair like a costume that makes anything possible.

For kids who love switching up their hair-dos in various ways.

[Cara Byrne]

"Magic isn't easy, but it is always worth this moment." A wonderful celebration of hair and possibility. This book would pair well with Tarpley's The Me I Choose to Be.

[Michaela Kadavy]

Her hair is magic.