Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature)
For a hilarious take on self-esteem, turn to Carolivia Herron's Nappy Hair. Participants at a backyard picnic comment on a young girl's curly-curly hair. The call-and-response pattern of the dialogue captures the voices of the various family members as well as the rhythms of African American speech. Based on fond recollections of the author's own childhood experience with "nappy hair," the story is enriched with Joe Cepeda's vibrant illustrations of an expressive family. 1997, Knopf, $17.00. Ages 4 to 8.

Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
Uncle Mordecai entertains the family at their annual picnic with the spirited story of Brenda's Nappy Hair, a call and response tale. The family answers his "sermon" with responses that reveal their appreciation of the meaning of that hair and their joy in its "African-ness." Mordecai takes us back to Africa to show "this nap come riding express, coming on across the ocean from Africa, wouldn't stop for nothing. (response) Didn't she come!" Finally the Lord looked down on this cute little baby girl and said, "Well done." A story for many voices with responses adding emphasis and dramatic urgency. Exaggerated illustrations capture the rhythm and fun of the tale. 1997, Knopf, $17.00 and $18.99. Ages 8 to 12.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1997)
Uncle Mordecai calls out the story of Brenda's hair--the nappiest hair in the world--at the family picnic, while everyone else chimes in with affirmations: "Yep," "You said it," and "Ain't it the truth." At first they think Mordecai is making fun of Brenda's hair; when he says that combing it out sounds like crunching through deep snow with two inches of crust on top, somebody says, "Brother, you ought to be ashamed." But soon it's clear that his only purpose is celebration: "One nap of her hair is the only perfect circle in nature," hair that is ordained by God Himself. The text, illustrations, and overall design of the book work exceptionally well together. Uncle Mordecai's narration is set in a serif typeface, with the interjected responses set in a variety of serif and sans-serif typefaces for emphasis. The exuberant gospel rhythm of the text is matched by Cepeda's bold, color-saturated paintings, particularly his renderings of little Brenda. She's clearly a child who stomps through life with a lot of spunk and energy. 1997, Knopf, $17.00; PLB $18.99. Starred Review. © 1997 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, February 1997 (Vol. 50, No. 6))
At a family picnic, Uncle Mordecai expounds upon the nappy nature of young Brenda's hair, comparing the combing of it to "scrunching through the New Mexico desert in brogans in the heat of summer." When he is chided for his observations he expands upon them in an expository conceit that includes nappy hair for Brenda as part of God's great plan. The resulting call-and-response is glorious: "And the Lord./ Well. / The Lord in heaven./ What you say./ The Lord who brought the Israelites out of Egypt./ Yes, he did./ He looked down on this cute little brown baby girl./ He looked at her./ He looked at her and he say 'Well done.'/ Yep./ He say 'I got me one.'/ That's what he said./ 'One nap of her hair is the only perfect circle in nature.'" Cepeda's bright palette serves him well in this exuberant story, distinguishing each expressive family member by style or dress: Uncle Mordecai, in a dark blue shirt, red bow tie and yellow pants, sits on a sky-blue porch with a pink railing. Brenda herself energetically races through the pages in a neon-green dress with a yellow ruffle and black and white high tops, joyfully heading for her obviously sublime destiny. Sitting around a picnic table set on fresh green grass, Brenda's family celebrates their togetherness-and her hair. R*--Highly recommended as a book of special distinction. Reviewed from galleys (c) Copyright 1997, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1997, Knopf, [32p], $18.99 and $17.00. Ages 4-8 yrs.