Shauntay GrantCritiques

This book would be good for primary students. This book is "My Fade is Fresh" written by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Mitt Thomas, and published in 2022. This book is about an African American girl who walks into a barber shop and wants a fade, but the hair dresser wants to give her something that looks more like a girl would get and they list off all of these haircuts that people with black, curly hair usually get and she stands firm with her want for a fade. I think this book accurately shows societies standards for girls and especially for girls with that type of hair. I think this book shows young people that you can look different than society says you should look and you should be proud of who you are. I would for sure have this book in my class because of this.

The story got a little bogged down with the child not being listened to, but she got her way in the end and was beautiful with her fresh fade and cute skirt. I love her.

Agirl arrives at the barbershop with hair everywhere and leaves with the freshest fade.

The adventure starts when the narrator walks into the barbershop, where Black folks are working, styling, sitting, and talking. The child sits and asks for “THE FRESHEST FADE UP ON THE BLOCK!” Instead of getting right to it, the hairdresser suggests other options—a trim, an Afro, cornrows— and cuts bit by bit. As the girl’s hair slowly gets shorter, other patrons suggest different options, like spikes, twists, or locs. Time passes as the suggestions keep pouring in, and the hairdresser and the child’s mother become visibly distressed. Finally, it all comes to an end when the child’s hair is short enough for her to say, “Just line me up.” The rhyming text is great fun to read, with perfect rhythm and style, though at times it can be slightly difficult to tell who is talking. The call and response detailing myriad creative Black hairstyles is both a humorous romp and a glorious celebration of Black beauty. The gentle message of a girl choosing her own look despite others’ attachment to her long hair is neither lost nor overdone. Thomas’ illustrations attend to every detail and exude energy, community, and warmth as they cycle through interesting characters and the narrator’s many different looks en route to her chosen fade. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This fun, powerful, and empowering tale belongs on every shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)

-Kirkus Review

"Yesterday at ten o'clock,
I walked into the barbershop.
My bushy, brownish, biggish hair
was growing almost everywhere."

The kid in this story knows exactly what she wants: "The freshest fade on the block!" But she has trouble getting the adults to believe her, and has to inch them toward her vision - "a little more off the top" - until it's achieved.

See also: Crown by Derrick Barnes (PB), Frizzy by Claribel Ortega (MG GN), Don't Touch My Hair by Sharee Miller, Hair Love by Matthew Cherry

not in ILL

A beautifully illustrated, poetic celebration of childhood memories of growing up in North Preston, Nova Scotia, a community significant in African-Canadian history.

A vibrantly illustrated, lyrical tale about a family vacationing on Price Edward Island in Autumn.

Wonderful, uplifting, and a celebration of not only the community of North Preston, Nova Scotia, but of life, childhood and memories! Shauntay Grant's poetical text takes us back into her childhood of summer joys, Sunday services, family gatherings, while Susan Tooke's brilliantly bold illustrations makes the reader feel as though he/she is actually part of the narrative (sharing the author's memories, climbing trees, picking blueberries and listening to Nana's stories of how Maroons, Loyalists and refugees made their way to freedom in Nova Scotia). By themselves, I would consider the illustrations almost a bit too brilliant, even somewhat garish, but they are the perfect complement to the author's expressive language and "word-painting."

The information concerning the history of North Preston, Nova Scotia and its settlement by African American Loyalists, Maroons and refugees is an added bonus, not only for the historical data it presents, but also because it touches on the fact that many of the settlers (even well into the 20th century) faced racism and marginalisation (a topic not really covered by and in the text proper). Highly recommended for anyone (both children and adults) interested in picture books about the African Canadian experience, but really, this delightful gem of a picture book is recommended for anyone who enjoys lovingly poetic homages to childhood, community and family.

Originally, I reserved this book at the library on the recommendation of a friend who had heard the author interviewed on CBC radio. Shauntay Grant was the poet laureate of Halifax, Nova Scotia from 2009-2011 so I expected a book of poetry. Imagine my surprise when I received a children’s picture book.

Apples and Butterflies tells the story of a young girl and her family on a fall holiday on Prince Edward Island, based on the author’s own memories.

Although this is subtitled: a Poem for Prince Edward Island, if there is a poem here, it is very free-form and I couldn’t recognize it. I know my poetry senses are untrained but then, so are a child’s (I assume the intended audience).

So I looked at Apples and Butterflies as “just” another picture book. From that point of view it was disappointing. The story does mention some of the delights of PEI but doesn’t develop them before the ideas float away. The illustrations seemed non-descript given the beauty they were intending to capture.

Sorry, Shauntay. I think it’s worth only 3 stars – plus another half for the Atlantic Canada connection. 3½ stars½