I Hate My Curly Hair Book Review: A Story About Self-Acceptance

I Hate My Curly Hair book review: the story

The heroine is a young girl who struggles to like her curly hair. She is tired of the tangles and the frizz, and she longs for straight hair like her friends.

With help from her loving family and a new sense of confidence, she learns to appreciate and celebrate her curls. The message is simple: love yourself just the way you are.

The characters

• The girl: she starts out disliking her curly hair and slowly learns to accept and love it.
• Her family: supportive and loving, they help her work through her feelings and see her own beauty.

Why parents and children like this book

The storyline is relatable and the message about self-acceptance is positive.

It handles a common insecurity, how children feel about their appearance, in a sensitive and empowering way. Through the girl's journey, young readers learn about self-esteem, resilience and the beauty of diversity.

Love themselves just the way they are.

The illustrations

Harshita Varma's artwork is vibrant, expressive and full of warmth. It captures the characters' emotions and the beauty of the girl's curls.

Each page has detailed, lively scenes that hold young readers and fit the text well.

I Hate My Curly Hair book for kids: who it suits

It is a picture book for young readers, especially children who are struggling with self-image and identity.

The large format and bold pictures make it easy to engage with, and the simple language works for read-alouds and independent reading.

How it helps a child's development

• Self-esteem and confidence: children see themselves in the girl's journey to self-acceptance.
• Empathy: it teaches children to value diversity and respect differences.
• Resilience: it encourages children to face obstacles and take pride in what makes them unique.

Read-aloud tip After the story, ask your child to name one thing they love about how they look. Then share one of your own.

About the author and illustrator

Anisha Bhatia writes heartfelt, relatable children's books. Harshita Varma is an illustrator with a gift for colourful, expressive artwork.

Similar books

• "The Hair Book" by Graham Tether
• "I Love My Hair!" by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
• "Sulwe" by Lupita Nyong'o

Gift it right: I Hate My Curly Hair as a birthday gift

A book that tells a child she is lovely just as she is makes one of the most thoughtful books as birthday gifts for kids. Pair it with a name label for the inside cover, and if you want to go a step further, a box of pretty hair clips to go with those curls.

See all personalised book labels, or browse our gifts for kids.

Read next

• Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You book review
• The Invisible Boy book review
• When I Feel Shy book review