Dalia's Wondrous Hair: El Maravilloso Cabello de Dalia (Bilingual English/Spanish)

A rich, warm palette and paintings bursting with vegetation--both drawn from Lacamara's native Cuba--add to the anything-is-possible atmosphere of this charming bilingual story about a girl who decides to do something special with her towering beehive of hair. Dalia asks her mother to guess what kind of tree she is as she packs her bouffant with leaves from the forest and mud from the swamp. Although Dalia's 'do gets a tad icky ("Do you want me to take care of that?" offers a machete-wielding neighbor), the whimsical result is worth it. Ages 4-9. (June)

K-Gr 2--One day, a young Latina girl's thick, black, wavy tresses stand straight up into the air. This might sound like a set-up for a bad hair day, but rather than being appalled or upset, Dalia happily makes the most of it. She proceeds to add items in her hair to look more like the natural surroundings, in hopes of resembling a special tree for her mother. The childhood appeal of this little girl interacting with nature will resonate with a broad audience, who will like Dalia. The Spanish translation is good, and it is just as enjoyable to read in English as it is in Spanish. At the end, the author includes a glossary of flora native to Cuba that are mentioned in the story. Additionally, there are some notes on how to create a butterfly garden. Laca;mara's rich and colorful artwork beautifully complement the imaginative text. A fun and enjoyable read-aloud.--Maricela Leon-Barrera, San Francisco Public Library