An Enchanted Hair Tale - Hardcover

Alexis De Veaux

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060216239 ISBN 13: 9780060216238

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1987

Synopsis

Sudan suffers from the general ridicule of his strange-looking hair, until he comes to accept and enjoy its enchantment.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-4 Sudan looks like his father, except for his hair that is just like his mother's. ``It giggled when he talked and roared when he walked and often sprouted wings.'' Although Sudan enjoys his enchanted hair, he is bothered by the negative comments that adults make about it. One day he gets so mad, he runs away and finds a group of people with ``wild root hair'' similar to his. Together they bounce on a trampoline and act in their circus until Sudan feels that he should go home. That night he is at peace, singing ``a song of the words Pearl Poet left in his head.'' De Veaux is trying to give children confidence in the face of taunting and discrimination, but she does not succeed. The poetics of the text seem forced and contrived, sometimes rhyming, sometimes not. The black-and-white illustrations show more warmth and understanding than the text. Sudan is rather appealing with his large, expressive eyes, slightly sad, but not mad. Some children may identify with Sudan, but more will be confused by the rhyme. Children do not easily accept an adult message just because it is packaged in a picture book format. Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, N.Y.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

The dreadlocks of Sudan's enchanted hair "giggled when he talked/ and roared when he walked/ and often sprouted wings." But people make fun of his hair, and that makes him misbehave. He finally runs away from home and discovers a back street filled with zebras, parakeets and, more importantly, exotic people with hair like his own. They invite him to join them, and one of the street people, Pearl Poet, finally takes him home. "Just be your pretty self, Sudan," she tells him. "And remember this. . . .ugly words/ shall never harm you." The flashy text is sometimes awkwardly rhymed, but the unusual story is beautifully illustrated by newcomer Hanna. Her rich black-and-white drawings hover intriguingly between the text's real and imaginary worlds. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0060216239
• ISBN 13: 9780060216238
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Cheryl Hanna