NoNieqa Ramos and Kiesha Morris’s New Picture Book Hair Story Reveals the Stories That Hair Can Tell
This September, Carolrhoda Books®, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group™, presents Hair Story, a new picture book written by NoNieqa Ramos and illustrated by Kiesha Morris. Ramos, the author of both young adult novels and picture books, tells a story portraying the belief that hair, or lack thereof, can be magical, powerful, “an anthem of inner beauty sung from the crown.” Ramos and Morris, who celebrates a BFA in Illustration from New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, combine to share a beautiful tale of understanding, acceptance, and identity.
In Hair Story Preciosa has hair that won’t stay straight, won’t be confined. Rudine’s hair resists rollers, flat irons, and rules. Together, the girls play hair salon! They take inspiration from their moms, their neighbors, their ancestors, and cultural icons. They discover that their hair holds roots of the past and threads of the future. With rhythmic, rhyming verse and vibrant collage art, author NoNieqa Ramos and illustrator Keisha Morris follow two girls—one non-Black Puerto Rican, one Black—as they discover the stories hair can tell.
Advanced Praise for Hair Story:
“A lovely lesson in loving and having pride in oneself, perfect for fans of Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love and for any shelf seeded with positive messaging.”—School Library Journal
Look inside and download a free teaching guide at lernerbooks.com
About the Author
NoNieqa Ramos has sported the bushy pyramid do of her childhood, the waist-length crispy-gelled curly locks of her teenhood, a bald head in chemotherapy, and her current hair glitter of grays. Her son Langston was born crowned with luscious dark brown curls. Her child Jandi rocks a fauxhawk buzz cut dyed with the aporagender flag. NoNieqa believes hair or lack thereof can be magical, powerful, an anthem of inner beauty sung from the crown. www.nonieqaramos.com
About the Illustrator
Kiesha Morris earned her BFA in Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and has created artwork for t-shirts as well as picture books. While making the illustrations for this book, Keisha used collaged tissue paper to help bring out the varying shades and different textures of each character’s hair! She lives in Maryland with her wife, daughter, and their cats Elphie and Ollie. www.keishamorris.com
Hair Story
September 7, 2021
$17.99 Hardcover
eBook Also Available
Ages 5–9
HC: 978-1-5415-7916-3
32 Pages ● 9 ¾ x 9 ¾
To Purchase: Visit your local bookstore, order by phone at 800-328-4929, or visit us at lernerbooks.com.
Media contact:
Lindsay Matvick
Publicity Manager
800-328-4929, x385
lmatvick@lernerbooks.com