Kily and the Magic Comb Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a young girl named Kily. Kily was a kind and curious girl who loved exploring and learning new things. She had long, curly hair that she loved to care for using her special comb. One day, while playing in the nearby forest, Kily stumbled upon a small, shimmering comb lying on the ground. Intrigued, she picked it up and immediately felt a strange energy coursing through her body. Little did she know, this was no ordinary comb - it was a magic comb! Excitement filled Kily's heart as she realized the power that this comb held.
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.
The book is an adventurous journey of discovery and identity where the lead character transports herself to anywhere she wants to go within her imagination because of a magical comb. ISBN 978-1-8382323-0-6 Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by Pure Print Group All papers used by Woke Kidz Publishing are natural, recyclable products from wood grown well managed forests.
Little did she know, this was no ordinary comb - it was a magic comb! Excitement filled Kily's heart as she realized the power that this comb held. She rushed home and began experimenting with it, combing her hair and reciting a magical incantation that had been engraved on the comb. To her amazement, her hair began to transform into different colors and textures, just as she desired.
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).
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.
Kily quickly discovered that the magic comb could do so much more than just change her hair. It had the power to grant wishes, heal wounds, and even bring inanimate objects to life. With each stroke of the comb, she unlocked a new magical ability. Word of Kily's incredible comb spread throughout the village, and soon people from far and wide came to seek her help. Kily used her newfound powers for the greater good, helping those in need and bringing joy to all who came in contact with her. But as magical as the comb was, Kily soon realized that with great power came great responsibility. She had to be careful not to misuse or abuse the power of the comb, as it could have dire consequences. She learned valuable lessons about humility, selflessness, and the importance of using one's powers for the benefit of others. As time went on, Kily became known as the village's beloved guardian, using her magic comb to bring happiness and harmony to all. She taught others about the importance of kindness and compassion, inspiring them to use their own unique gifts for the betterment of the world. And so, Kily's story became a legend in the village, with parents telling their children of the brave and caring girl who possessed the magic comb. Her story served as a reminder that true power lies not in the strength of one's abilities, but in the way they are used to make a positive impact on the lives of others. The story of Kily and the magic comb teaches us that the greatest miracles often come from within ourselves. We all have our own magic within us, waiting to be discovered and used to bring light into the world. It reminds us to treasure our unique gifts and to use them for the betterment of all, just as Kily did..
Reviews for "Kily and the magic comb: a tale of strength and courage."
1. Sarah - 1 star - I did not enjoy "Kily and the magic comb" at all. The storyline was extremely predictable and lacked depth. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue was unrealistic. The whole concept of a magic comb just didn't resonate with me and the plot felt forced. Overall, I found it to be a dull and uninteresting read.
2. John - 2 stars - I was disappointed with "Kily and the magic comb" as it failed to engage me from the start. The writing style was amateur and lacked polish. I felt that the pacing was off, with some scenes dragging on unnecessarily while others were rushed. The climax of the story was anticlimactic and did not live up to my expectations. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted story.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "Kily and the magic comb" was a disappointing read for me. The plot was unoriginal and followed cliché tropes, leaving me feeling uninterested throughout. The characters were unrelatable and their development was shallow. Additionally, the writing itself was lackluster and lacked creativity. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and would not recommend it to others.
4. Michael - 1 star - I strongly disliked "Kily and the magic comb". The writing style was juvenile and lacked sophistication. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. The plot was predictable and the pacing was incredibly slow. I found myself becoming bored and disinterested, ultimately leading me to abandon the book before finishing it. Avoid this one if you're looking for a well-written and engaging story.
5. Jessica - 2 stars - "Kily and the magic comb" left me feeling disappointed and underwhelmed. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of many other fantasy books. The characterization was weak, with the protagonist being particularly unremarkable. The writing style was also fairly average, lacking any real depth or creativity. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly standout fantasy read.