FRIZZY HAIRED ZUZU

Zuzu dislikes her voluminous, frizzy red hair.

In a quest to help Zuzu get rid of her curls, her cousin, sister, and mother all attempt various methods that only exacerbate the situation. Ultimately, she decides to spend the money she’s saved from her allowance and her birthday on a trip to the salon, where her hair is straightened. This transformation leaves her feeling unlike herself, however, and she finds herself annoyed when her friends compliment her new look. As Zuzu goes home, it begins to rain, and, knowing what happens when her hair becomes wet, she starts to dance rather than running inside. Her hair is big and curly once more, and Zuzu is thrilled. The book’s beautiful, sometimes whimsical cartoon illustrations skillfully depict the unsuccessful endeavors to reduce Zuzu’s hair volume and capture her emotions in response. The tale offers an important message—that kids should love and accept themselves wholeheartedly—but Zuzu’s shift in perspective feels abrupt, and it isn’t clear why she’s suddenly learned to embrace her locks. Street signs in Arabic are interspersed throughout, many women are depicted wearing headscarves, and in an author’s note, Sharif states that she drew inspiration from her Iraqi Kurdish mother’s childhood.

A brief but joyful story of a girl coming to terms with her unique hair.