Review Detail

In Braided Roots, a father braids his daughter's hair just like his own. While doing this, he tells a story about their ancestors, and he tells her of Freedman who walked the Trail of Tears. He also talks about honoring your roots and the importance of the strong bond of familial love.

What I Liked: This book opens with a young girl sharing about her dad braiding her hair, and her choosing a ribbon that would go into her hair. They talk about their favorite colors, and she asks for those to be the ribbons that are in her hair. This is a great moment showing the intertwining of a family and the bonding that occurs as her father braids her hair.

The realistic illustrations throughout this book do a great job of portraying the historical pieces and tying them together with the present day. The illustrations of the young girl show her embracing herself and also depict her ancestors along the journey through the wind. Each picture builds on the previous picture and pieces the whole story together. There is a powerful moment in which the young girl’s hair is down, and she stands alone with the wind around her, embracing all she has learned and the final product.

Final Verdict: Braided Roots is a beautiful and informative story that combines history, family, and a father’s love for his daughter. Children ages 4 and up will be able to appreciate the history lesson that is shared throughout this book and enjoy the familial bond that is shared through the braiding of hair. This is a great book to teach about indigenous roots as well as the importance of braiding for some cultures.