  | Hair oil magic Author: Chouhan, Anu | |
| Price: $23.78 | ||
Summary:
Meenu discovers the magic in her culture's tradition of hair oiling, and the bond she shares with her mother and grandmother. Includes Meenu's magic hair day tips.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (12/15/23)
School Library Journal (01/12/24)
Booklist (02/15/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 01/12/2024 Gr 1–3—A wonderful tale about tradition and the love between mothers and daughters, this is the story of Meenu and her Magic Hair Day. Once a week, her mother mixes together oils and massages them into Meenu's hair, making it shiny and bouncy. Meenu loves the fuzzy feeling, but when she tries to make the potion herself, she doesn't get the same feeling and makes a mess. She learns that it's not the mixture that makes that feeling; it's the love of her mother. Deep, rich colors with purples and oranges make a striking contrast to Meenu and her mother's vibrant dark hair; the family is likely South Asian. At the end, the author gives tips on how readers can have their own special days if they want to try. VERDICT A nice title for the family shelves, and a sweet story about a wonderful day between mothers and daughters.—Jessica Durham - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 02/15/2024 Every Sunday, Meenu’s mother massages a mixture of sweet-smelling oils into Meenu’s hair. It is a cozy, intimate routine, with Meenu sitting in her mother’s lap, relaxed and calm. Her mother’s hands and the hair oil create a tingly feeling of happiness. The oil is allowed a few hours to work its magic while Meenu plays and helps around the house. At bath time, the oil is washed out, leaving Meenu’s hair silky and shiny. One day, to prove that she is grown up, Meenu decides to create the tingly magic feeling for herself, but her attempt results in a sad mishap, and Meenu learns that the magic is not in the oil but rather the connection between her and her mother. This sweet, charmingly illustrated tale will resonate with readers and their caregivers who share the hair-oiling ritual and will create points of connection with readers from other cultures in which women care for each other’s hair through similar intergenerational traditions. Back matter adds a personal note from the author and tips on oiling hair. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
