Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Loly who lived with her parents in a small cottage by the forest. Loly was a kind-hearted and imaginative girl who loved to explore the world around her. She had a special connection with nature and often found herself talking to the birds and animals. One day, as Loly was wandering through the forest, she stumbled upon a hidden glade. In the middle of the glade, she spotted a peculiar-looking comb sitting on a moss-covered stone. As Loly approached the comb, she noticed that it was shimmering with a magical glow.
There are, already, a few picture books celebrating Black hair, but this latest beautifully finished debut from musician VV Brown adds a fun, fresh, and magical element to everyday haircare stories.
But when she uses it to detangle her brown curls she, suddenly, imagines herself transported to outer space, dancing on planets, racing against rockets, and whizzing down slides made of rainbows. And what she achieves, here, is a sense of playfulness, freedom, and imagination less often attributed to young Black characters, with a nod to an Afro hair-combing tradition steeped in Black history.
As Loly approached the comb, she noticed that it was shimmering with a magical glow. Curiosity getting the better of her, Loly cautiously picked up the comb and ran her fingers through her long, golden locks. To her astonishment, as she brushed her hair with the magical comb, her hair began to transform.
Candid Cocoa
Lily's birthday gift from Mum is just a fancy wide-toothed comb. But when she uses it to detangle her brown curls she, suddenly, imagines herself transported to outer space, dancing on planets, racing against rockets, and whizzing down slides made of rainbows.
There are, already, a few picture books celebrating Black hair, but this latest beautifully finished debut from musician VV Brown adds a fun, fresh, and magical element to everyday haircare stories.
Brown wrote the book due to concerns about the lack of diverse literature for her dual-heritage children. And what she achieves, here, is a sense of playfulness, freedom, and imagination less often attributed to young Black characters, with a nod to an Afro hair-combing tradition steeped in Black history.
Reading about Lily and her empowering comb will undoubtedly boost children's self-esteem and encourage them to follow their dreams whatever their ethnicity or gender. I enjoyed the spread where Lily imagines various careers including the traditionally male-dominated fields of weightlifting, flying planes, and science. Lily's whirlwind space adventure could have, perhaps, been afforded a few more pages as it seemed to end as quickly as it began.
With its highly irregular rhyme and meter, this text is most suited to shared reading at home. Young children could predict Lily's birthday gift and where she will travel to with her comb. Afterwards, they could draw and talk about made-up magical adventures, using their imaginations to extend the original story. If you had Lily's magic comb, which amazing place would you travel to next? How will you get there? What would you see there? What would you do there?
The text also provides opportunities for hands-on activities. Children might enjoy comb painting, making rainbows or 'slimy cakes' with home-made 'slime'. The home corner could be kitted out with different types/sizes of hair grooming equipment: Afro picks, twist sponge brushes, empty and clean hair-grease containers, hairnets/nightcaps, and headwraps so children can explore and create their own narratives.
I adored illustrator Kate Hazell's powerful central spread with Lily's brown-skinned face taking up the entire space from edge and edge. Hazell's eye-catching kaleidoscopic scenes are full of energy, and evoke that feeling of being in the middle of a quirky dream. Her attention to detail over the variation in Lily's hair-curl pattern is also fabulous.
This engaging, positive story encourages children, especially Black girls, to be proud of their natural hair, and of who they are. And in an age where discrimination against Black British schoolchildren with Afro hair is still prevalent, the more books we have like this, the better!
Note for parents: Read about the Halo Code, a set of guidelines drawn up by a collective of 30 Black students to guard against Afro hair discrimination in the UK ( halocollective.co.uk).
With its highly irregular rhyme and meter, this text is most suited to shared reading at home. Young children could predict Lily's birthday gift and where she will travel to with her comb. Afterwards, they could draw and talk about made-up magical adventures, using their imaginations to extend the original story. If you had Lily's magic comb, which amazing place would you travel to next? How will you get there? What would you see there? What would you do there?
It turned a shimmering shade of pink and became long and silky. Loly was amazed and couldn't believe her eyes. Excited by this magical discovery, Loly decided to keep the comb as her secret. She would often play with it in her room, transforming her hair into different colors and styles. Sometimes it would turn turquoise, other times it would become a vibrant red or a beautiful shade of purple. As the days went by, however, Loly realized that the comb had a greater power beyond just changing her appearance. Whenever she brushed her hair with the magic comb, she could also hear the thoughts and feelings of the animals in the forest. Loly started using the comb to communicate with the animals and help them in any way she could. She would listen to the birdsong and help injured animals find shelter and healing. The animals trusted Loly and knew she had a heart full of love and compassion. In no time, news of the girl with the magic comb spread throughout the forest. Animals from far and wide would seek Loly's help, and she would always be there to lend a hand. With the power of the comb, Loly became a guardian of the forest, ensuring the well-being and harmony of all its inhabitants. As Loly grew older, she continued to use her magical gift to bring happiness and joy to those around her. She would visit hospitals and nursing homes, using the comb to transform the patients' hair and brighten their spirits. Loly became a beloved figure in her community, known for her kindness, generosity, and magical abilities. But the real magic, she always believed, came from within – from her genuine love and care for others. The comb was simply a tool that helped her tap into that magic and spread it far and wide. And so, Loly and her magic comb lived happily ever after, leaving a trail of love and kindness wherever they went. Their story serves as a reminder that true magic lies in the small acts of love we offer to others and the connections we create with the world around us..
Reviews for "Immerse Yourself in the Vibrant Illustrations of Loly and the Magic Comb"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Loly and the magic comb". The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with any of them, and I found myself not caring about their journey or what happened to them. The writing style was also subpar, with a lot of cliched phrases and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time.
2. Mark - 1 star - "Loly and the magic comb" was one of the worst books I've ever read. The story was incredibly boring, and the pacing was all over the place. The author failed to create any tension or suspense, and I found myself constantly checking how many pages were left until the end. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy, with unrealistic and melodramatic interactions between the characters. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Loly and the magic comb" based on the promising synopsis, but it fell flat for me. The writing was simplistic and lacked depth, making it difficult to engage with the story. The protagonist, Loly, was portrayed as a one-dimensional character with no growth or development throughout the book. Additionally, the magical elements introduced in the plot seemed forced and out of place. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not worth the read.
4. John - 2 stars - "Loly and the magic comb" had an interesting concept, but I felt that it was poorly executed. The pacing was too slow, with a lot of unnecessary scenes and descriptions that didn't add anything to the story. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. Furthermore, the resolution of the conflict was predictable and lacked any real impact. I would have liked to see more depth and complexity in the plot and characters.