Tarpley's first book for children joins a growing list of titles about African-American hair--linking it to issues of self- esteem and acceptance. Keyana tells how her mother sits her down each night to comb her hair and to rub coconut oil into her scalp; Mama's touch and her words are always heartening. Keyana is lucky to have her head of hair because ``it's beautiful and you can wear it in any style you choose.'' It can be woven into a puffy bun, braided into corn rows, grown into an Afro style that is partly a political statement, or pulled into two ponytails that ``stick out on either side of my head and slap in the air like a pair of wings,'' making her feel free enough to fly. Lewis's imaginative and warm interpretations of these exchanges as well as the inclusion of bits of African-American cultural history expand the personal content. (Picture book. 3-6)
