Hair braiding is a Sunday night ritual for a little girl and her mama. “Tugging, combing, pulling, twisting—Mama parts my thick coils to smooth out all the tangles.” As her mama works, she tells the girl that her hair style echoes those worn by women thousands of years ago. The little girl imagines herself as an Egyptian queen, a Nigerian goddess, a Zulu warrior, and a Maasai girl, each with a different hairstyle. All of the hairstyles are rooted in specific geographic and cultural regions of Africa (shown in the back with a map and brief description) but all also reflect contemporary styles worn by Black women and girls today. The history and cultural grounding of these styles is further detailed in brief descriptions accompanying photographs of children wearing them at book’s end. The warmth between mother and daughter is as lasting as the cultural pride in this picture book featuring bold acrylic and collage illustrations. (Ages 3–8)

When Mama Braids My Hair captures a young girl's experience of having her hair braided and the bond it creates with her mother. The tradition of African hair braiding is more than just a Sunday routine. Come join Nikki on an adventure as she is transformed into an Egyptian queen, a Nigerian goddess, a Zulu warrior, and a Maasai girl.

While young girls throughout the African Diaspora can relate to getting their hair braided in intricate styles, it is also an ancient ritual that is a large part of their history. Readers will enjoy going on an adventure with the main character and learning about the origins of popular braided hairstyles worn today.