Don't Touch My Hair!

Miller tells it like it is while giving children of color permission to set boundaries when people reach out to touch their curly, kinky, or nappy hair.

Aria, a brown-skinned protagonist, opens this picture book by introducing herself with a double-page, gutter-spanning image of her smiling face and her full head of hair that takes up three-quarters of the spread: “I’m Aria, and this is my hair.” Aria loves her hair, but others do too—so much so that they want to touch it even without permission. Aria decidedly does not like this. To demonstrate how she avoids touching hands, she appears eight times on one page—in full aerial split, karate-style airborne kick, curled into a fetal position, tentative headstand, and more—hemmed show more in almost all the way around by groping, outstretched hands. Even when she attempts to escape underwater, an octopus and a mermaid chase her, tentacles and arms extended. Wherever she travels, she can’t get away from this threat…until she learns a strategy that works. Miller’s variegated watercolor, pencil, and ink illustrations effectively portray Aria’s verve as well as her frustrations. The cover image and several others depict disembodied hands and arms in many skin tones reaching for Aria’s hair, suggesting that this intrusive behavior can come from anyone.

Miller’s lighthearted touch effectively delivers a serious, necessary message about respecting boundaries. (Picture book. 3-8)

-Kirkus Review show less

Sharee Miller, the talented author/illustrator behind the recent Princess Hair, returns to the topic of tresses in this new picture-book. Aria loves her soft and bouncy hair, which grows toward the sun like a flower. The problem is, everyone else loves it too, and is forever touching it. Attempting to escape the hordes of people (and creatures!) intent on touching what they shouldn't, she ends up on a desert island. Can she find a way to return to society, but maintain her personal boundaries...?

An engaging story is joined to cute, appealing artwork in Don't Touch My Hair!, which offers a creative, fairy-tale take on a common childhood problem: respecting personal, bodily boundaries. The importance of teaching young people about their show more right to reject unwanted touching (of any kind), and to respect other's similar right not to be touched, is something Miller addresses in her brief afterword, in which she hopes her book can be used to further this goal. I think it can do just that, and because it is entertaining and non-judgmental, it can do so in a way that is most helpful. Recommended to fans of Miller's artwork, and to anyone searching for children's stories about setting and respecting personal boundaries. show less

This book shows a young girl, and how she loves her hair, that “grows up toward the sun like a flower”. She notices many people commenting on her hair, wherever she goes, and some of them even want to touch it, without asking for permission. She tries to hide her hair, that she loves, to avoid those who “can’t keep their hands to themselves”. This book shows creative, dynamic illustrations that depict the many ways black people, woman and girls especially, feel when they are seeking solace from others microaggressions and inappropriate curiosities. This book is a mirror for young black girls, and can help them learn ways to ward off unwanted touching, and questioning from others. This book is a window, for others to have the show more opportunity to learn about how they may be making someone feel through microaggressions, even when it may feel friendly to them. It also shows suggested ways to ask for permission, and to be respectful with those who may be different in appearance. This book is written and illustrated by a black woman, who writes other books representing black voices and characters. show less

I read this story a few years ago as part of a reading challenge and I fell in love with it. As someone who has been in Aria's shoes multiple times as a little girl and unsure of how to politely say "stop", the story is a fun way of illustrating enacting boundaries. Along with funny illustrations, it also highlights the freedom of just being who you are. I love this!

Oooh, consent! In picture book! So that we can all get used to hearing no without losing our minds about it. Awesome.

Also, her hair is fierce.

A fun and joyful look at a serious topic as Aria deals with microaggressions and invasions of her personal space because of her beautiful and bounteous hair. This would be a great teaching tool for youngsters, and, probably way too many older people also.

Adults should also check out Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers.

The author/illustrator Sharee Miller does a fantastic job of conveying the importance of personal boundaries and what they mean through a hyperbolic portrayal of people trying to touch a little girl's fabulous hair. I think she did a great job getting her point across while making it an enjoyable read-both in text and illustrations.