Hair Twins

by Raakhee Mirchandani

AR Test, Teaches About Culture

At A Glance

Interest Level

5-8

Entertainment
Score

Reading Level
2.8

Number of Pages
40

Every morning Papa combs through his daughter’s waves like he does his own—parting it down the middle, using coconut oil to get all the tangles out.

Some days he braids her hair in two twists down the side of her face. Other days he weaves it into one long braid hanging down her back, just like a unicorn tail. But her favorite style is when he combs her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, just like the joora he wears every day under his turban. They call this their hair twin look!

Hair Twins celebrates a Sikh father and daughter who have a special hair routine that celebrates the Sikh tradition of not cutting your hair. Papa’s love is clearly displayed when he takes the time to care for his daughter’s hair and style it in all sorts of fun ways such as when he makes “twists down the side of my face. They remind me of the long snowy-white braid my dadi wears to parties.” After the girl’s hair is styled, she becomes Papa’s “hair assistant” and soon they are both ready to greet the day!

The whimsical illustrations focus on Papa and his daughter and include some silly elements, such as when Papa brushes the girl’s hair “down the middle, like a river separating two enchanted forests.” The illustrator creates a picture that turns the girl’s hair into water with jumping fish. While not all of the pictures are fanciful, the brightly colored pictures clearly show the family’s love. Little readers will enjoy seeing the different hairstyles and their comparisons.

This heartwarming story shows the incredible bond between a father and daughter, and it also gives readers a glimpse into their culture. The author’s note at the end of the book reveals more about Raakhee’s inspiration for writing the book. She also explains that she wanted others to be “inspired to proudly share their own tradition with the world.” For more inspiration, read Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, which is another picture book that shows how hair can be a form of self-expression.

Sexual Content