My Powerful Hair

by Carole Lindstrom, Steph Littlebird (Illustrator)

From the award-winning and bestselling author of We Are Water Protectors comes an empowering picture book about family history, self-expression, and reclaiming your identity

Our ancestors say our hair is our memories,
our source of strength and power,
a celebration of our lives.

Mom never had long hair—she was told it was too wild. Grandma couldn’t have long hair—hers was taken from her. But one young girl can’t wait to grow her hair for herself, for her family, for her connection to her culture and the Earth, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her.

From Carole Lindstrom, author of the New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medal winner We Are Water Protectors , and debut illustrator Steph Littlebird comes an empowering and healing celebration of hair and its significance across Indigenous cultures.

Genres: Picture Books, Indigenous, Native American, Family, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2023

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me tell you something...Carole Lindstrom never ever disappoints. As soon as that this book was releasing, I not only made sure that the library had copies, but I also made sure to place a copy on hold for myself to read. My Powerful Hair draws from Lindstrom's own experiences and details the importance of hair to Native and Indigenous communities. Mind you, I'm familiar with my own experiences as it pertains to Black hair, but I love learning about experiences and cultures outside of my own. Books like this are particularly important for children because it helps build empathy and respect for other cultures. The illustrations were GORGEOUS and I seriously hope that this title is up for a Caldecott next year. I highly recommend reading this one as well as the author's note at the end.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was younger my mother use to have my hair cut really short. Pixie hair cut short!

And…I hated it. Especially since the style at the time was long with the part down the middle.

I hated having short hair, and I hated how it accented my freckles and…

How…Self-conscious these haircuts made me feel.

In fact, I almost felt like Samson, the legendary Israelite warrior and judge who had immense physical strength, who believed he would lose his strength if his hair were cut.

Only for me…Every time my locks were cut, I felt I was losing my “beauty.”

How could my mother not understand what she was doing to me?

So…When I saw this beautifully illustrated children’s book that declared that hair was a “source of strength and power and a celebration of life,” how could I not feel that they were speaking to my younger self?

I wanted to know more.

And so…I checked this book out from my library.

When the story begins, I almost lost my breath. I felt like I was looking in the mirror. The girl had a pixie cut!

And…She couldn’t wait for her hair to grow. Was this my story, after all?

But…As I read about the traditions of this native/indigenous culture, I learned that memories are woven into the hair.

Thus…It is only appropriate to grow hair long to be close to Mother Earth.

And so…That is what she did – grew her hair long.

And understanding this allows everyone to appreciate, its energy and power and thus celebrate the beauty of who we are because of it.

So…If you wonder why an old lady my age has long locks…

Now…You know! There is still that little girl in me that remembers how I felt all those years ago!

And…With my long locks, I am continuing to celebrate my closeness to Mother Earth.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about the importance and meaning of long hair in Indigenous culture. Touches on Residential schools, mythology and grief for lost loved ones.

[Sera Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book about indigenous hair and the cultural connection it has to our people. I didn’t grow up with a lot of content for natives and so I didn’t get to learn about my grandmothers culture. What a beautiful and vibrant book that’s educational as well.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice education and celebration of Indigenous beliefs and traditions regarding their hair.

And here's a reminder to those whose brains are stuck in toddler mode: Never touch someone else's hair without permission.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the e-ARC. I was excited to read this new book from the author of We are Water Protectors. It shows readers the power and significance of hair to Indigenous peoples in North America. The author's note brings to light how the author felt as a child knowing that she was able to stop the cycle of women in her family that felt they could not grow their hair out in order to reclaim her identity and the power that her ancestors had taken away from them. Look for this one on March 21, 2023.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Powerful message and vibrant illustrations undercut by a confusing timeline. With the author's note it all makes sense, but I don't think that should be required to follow a picture book.

The message of the power of hair in many Native cultures is made clear. It occurs to me that books like this are quite religious, and the sacredness and rituals involved with hair are beautifully depicted.

The note indicating that it's the adult author whose story is told makes much more sense in terms of the chronology. I wish that had been made clearer from the outset, particularly for young readers.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Powerful Hair is beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. I read it with my 6yo niece and she really liked it too. It provoked a lot of great discussion, and the art was a big hit. I personally loved this one. Highly recommended!

[Andrea Brinkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read on the significance of hair in Indigenous cultures.

[Sabrina MacKerell · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Powerful Hair is a picturebook that centers around the cultural significance, strength, and power of hair to all Native American tribal nations, but specifically to the Ojibwe tribe in this story. A young Native child measures key life moments and changes through the length of her hair. Throughout the story, she learns the connections that her hair has to her ancestors and the stories that make up who she is. Moreover, the story celebrates how hair is not only a physical characteristic but also a spiritual and cultural symbol. As the girl learns more about her heritage, she comes to understand that her hair is a powerful connection to her family, traditions, and the Earth.
The writing is lyrical and poetic. It is written in a way that is accessible and easy to understand for young readers. There is a lot of repetition and simple sentences. This allows for readers to be able to grasp the deep wisdom and themes that are woven throughout the story.
Cultural elements of Native American culture are included in an authentic way. First, the author, Carole Lindstrom, and illustrator, Steph Littlebird, are both part of the Native American culture. In the author’s note, Lindstrom reflects on her own experiences of seeing her mother and grandmother with short hair and learning about the Indian Boarding Schools that forced their hair to be cut, targeting the removal of their culture. One key cultural element that stood out to me was that the girl cut her hair when her Nimishoomis, or grandfather, passed away. It is a cultural tradition for Native Americans to cut their hair and put it in the grave with a loved one, in order to provide high energies on their spiritual journey. There were also a few Ojibwe words weaved throughout the story naturally.
Cultural elements were also seen throughout the beautiful, colorful illustrations. The artwork blends nature like the earth, the sky, and the wind with the child’s journey. The illustrations are deeply symbolic, with hair depicted as flowing, powerful, and interconnected with nature. For example, the long hair of women is seen as the rivers that flow off the mountains. The use of soft, earthy tones and intricate details in the illustrations creates a sense of serenity and connection to the natural world, which is essential to Native American values.
This book would be best for students in 1st-3rd grade. It could be used to teach more about Native American culture - specifically their values and traditions. This book has many important themes such as cultural identity, pride in self and one’s heritage, and ancestral connection. This title is also a critical book to add to a classroom collection because it highlights experiences of Native American children today and emphasizes that tribal nations still exist. It counters a single story of indigenous people and works to counter erasure tactics. In the classroom, teachers could begin by teaching more about the Ojibwe tribe specifically. This could also be used to compare and contrast how hair is seen across different cultures, using picturebooks such as Hair Love and Under My Hijab.
I found this title on the Wakelet for 2024 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Winners and Honorees. It won in 2024. I read a paperback version from my local library. I highly recommend this book, especially after reading An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People. It accurately represents the Ojibwe culture and introduces some of the atrocities they faced in an accessible way for young learners.

[La-Shanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It’s the first summer read with my littlest one. Our family is bi-ethnic. Learning about indigenous culture tells of a community of people in human history. The story captured the importance of hair. Even in Christianity, hair is a part of the body which is sacred. I highly recommend this story if you want to learn about indigenous culture appropriate for young children.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful tribute and explanation about the importance of long hair to the women of the indigenous people of North America. Some of the terrible things that were done to children who were trying to be made English at boarding schools.

Amazing and beautiful illustrations by Steph Littlebird-Caldecott worthy for sure. Hidden cover and nice endpapers.

[Catarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy, yet beautiful story! An indigenous persons story about hair and the “power” it holds with the added aspect of how their ancestors told them. This was a quick read and the images and story were wonderfully executed. I would recommend this to everyone with children or for adults.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Incredible illustrations and a lesson in pride, resilience, and culture.

[Kendall Santoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindstrom’s story celebrates the cultural significance of hair in Native American culture. Her story follows a young girl who is eager for her hair to grow long. She’s inspired by the stories and cultural tales shared by her family, recalling the discrimination Native American’s have faced. She learns that her hair holds memories, strength, earthly ties, and identity. She recants her own memories, such as the birth of her brother or making moccasins with her cousins, and mentions these memories are “woven into her hair”. She only cuts her hair when her grandfather, Nimishoomis, passes, so that she can share her strength and energy with him in the spirit world. Her desire to grow her hair long stems in reclaiming her cultural identity that was stolen from her ancestors as well as appreciating her cultural roots. Teachers can use this story to shed light on Native American culture, teaching students to be appreciative and understanding of cultural differences.

[Alycia Morden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the vibrant and colourful illustrations. My Powerful Hair is about the significance of having long hair to Indigenous peoples (strength, power, memories). There are various traditions, such as cutting one's hair and burying it along with a loved one.

There are a few Ojibwe vocabulary words, and an author's note describing how her grandmother and great-aunts had their hair shorn and were forced to attend an Indian boarding school. She had always wondered why older relatives kept their hair short, and she made the decision to grow her hair to celebrate her identity and ancestors.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Educational, joyous, touching, and vibrant! I really enjoyed this one and I loved how the illustrations appeared as if they were on top of wood, with the grain peeking through some of the colours. Very cool!

[Citri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art, beautiful story. Somehow I could feel the fingers of my great grandma running her fingers through my hair, telling me the same sentiments in this book. Very empowering to read

[Anna Wooliver Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our emphasis on hair conformity is deeply rooted in colonialism and cultural suppression.

[Hannah]

I love this and would like to see people read it alongside the many newer books celebrating Black hair.

[Deborah]

As a child grows, her hair grows, and with it her knowledge of its meaning. Family and cultural history are expressed lyrically, rhythmically, with honesty and love. A powerful author's note adds to the significance of this moving story.

[Nahe Bukoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carole Lindstrom's "My Powerful Hair" is a wonderful and powerful narrative about accepting your identity, culture, and self-expression. The story explores themes of generational connection and resilience, particularly through the protagonist's search to discover the importance of her hair. Lindstrom's emotional narration, mixed with vivid graphics, creates a book that celebrates individuality and tradition. It's a strong read that inspires readers to embrace their heritage and take pride in who they are.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Our ancestors say our hair is our memories, our source of strength and power, a celebration of our lives,” states the jacket note. This story explores the symbolic significance of hair among Native/Indigenous people, which is considered an extension of a person, holding their “dreams, memories, joys, trials, tribulations, and triumphs” like a “living scrapbook.” Fascinating! The gorgeous artwork depicts the oneness of the people with each other and the land, which are bound together by long, flowing locks of black hair. The Author’s Note describes the horrors of the Indian boarding schools in the early 1900s, which taught that long hair was a sign of “wildness” and “savageness.” According to the author, the tradition of growing one’s hair long is an act of reclaiming one’s identity and returning the power of the ancestors to the family by “growing one’s power.”

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Powerful Hair is a very uniquely illustrated children's book with bold lines and beautiful colors. Lindstrom explores the joy and significance of hair in indigenous cultures and the way significance and memories are considered a sacred part of us through our hair. The concepts are lovely and the representation is important.

Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

My first-grader enjoyed this book more than I expected, but it feels a little choppy and has a smaller audience than some texts.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds a simple elegance. It shares much about indigenous culture,both personally and in an expansive way. A young girl’s hair marks the passage of time and moments in her life, while the broader narration reinforces the native traditions and connections to long hair.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful ode to long hair and the beliefs and traditions of some American Indians. The author’s note at the end of the book explains why the author has made a point of growing her hair long.

[Joel Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

STUNNING!

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steph Littlebird did the illustrations. Wow! They are amazing. It's so colorful and vibrant and has all these lines in everything that look like treads or hair. It's so well done. I love it. It feels powerful.

"Our Ancestors say our hair is our memories, our source of strength and power, a celebration of our lives."

This story is told of someone in the Ojibwe tribe. When I was in the sweat lodges in Ann Arbor, we had a couple who came that were full Ojibwe tribe. They were very cool people and taught me so much.

This story is about memories and hair and what long hair means to some tribes and cultures. I remember hearing this as a child about hair holding memories and that really resonated with me. It felt true and right to me. My parents never let me grow my hair as a kid, but when I was old enough to have hair my way, I have always had long hair. I love how the books says "when a loved one braids your hair, it reinforces the sacredness of your relationship." How beautiful is that. I love it.

I don't know if kids will enjoy this story, but I really did. It's a way to see something different.

In the story, the child talks about her mother always had short hair and it goes back to the 1900s when they were stolen from their parents and forced to cut their hair. The nuns said that long hair was wildness and savagery. That's so bizarre, since western women have long hair as well. It was cruelty.

I spent so much time studying Native and Asian culture in this life of mine. I've felt drawn to both and I've never really understood it. We learned that 50,000 years ago, Asian crossed the land bridge into Alaska and migrated down into North America. I see so many similarities between the two cultures. They both had the same thought about hair. Different styles and whatnot, but hair was important. Both men and women had long hair. It makes sense that they came from the same peoples thousands of years ago. Those values stayed the same in many ways. Just musings of mine. There are many other things. Anyway.

I loved the book

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The significance of hair in certain cultures cannot be understated, and this picture book follows one indigenous girl as she grows her hair longer, then cuts it after the death of a valued family member, only to begin growing it again. As she considers her hair and moves through the various ordinary events of her days, she also recollects some of the stories her relatives have related about hair's significance and how indigenous students had their hair cut very short to reduce their presumed "wildness." The illustrations, created with Procreate after being sketched with a pencil, are handsome and filled with images of hair, long and short; even the endpapers feature hefty, healthy braids swirling across the pages. The story is strong enough on its own to be included in a collection of books about culture, hair, or self-acceptance, but the artwork and the helpful Author's Note discussing boarding schools and why so many Native Americans kept their hair short elevate it further. There's much to consider when reading this book, which may help some readers understand others who are different from them or how and why hair could be powerful but also serve as a point of self-identification for certain readers who will be pleased to see a picture book that speaks to them and mirrors their own experiences in an easy-to-understand way.

[NBPB Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little girl is excited about growing her hair. According to her ancestors, longer hair enabled them to connect better with Mother Earth. Hair also can connect one with one's people and life events. For instance, her baby brother was born when the little girl's hair grew long enough to touch her shoulders. Hair symbolizes strength, as shown when the little girl cut some of her hair and offered it to her grandfather when he passed away.

We picked this book for its title. Through the story of hair and its significance to one's culture, the book delves into the rich history of Native Americans. Illustrations that enhance the narrative complement the storyline.

My Powerful Hair, written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Steph Littlebird, tells the story of Native American history and emphasizes the significance of preserving and embracing one's culture to remain connected to one's heritage.
For full review, visit Nothing But Picture Books