Can I Touch Your Hair?
Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship
Two poets, one white and one black, explore race and childhood in this must-have collection tailored to provoke thought and conversation.
How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don’t know each other . . . and they’re not sure they want to.
Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is Black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko (of The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage), this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-5124-0442-5
|
$14.24 | |
|
978-1-5124-7215-8
|
$23.99 | |
|
978-1-5415-8950-6
|
$34.99 | |
|
978-1-5415-8951-3
|
$6.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 3 - Grade 6 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 4 |
| Genre | Picture Books |
| Category | Diverse Books: #OwnVoices, Diverse Books: Race & Ethnicity, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, SEL: A Self-Awareness, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2018 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Books ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 40 |
| Publication Date | 2018-01-01 |
| Text Type | Poetry |
|---|---|
| BISACS | JNF053060, JNF042000, JNF069000 |
| Dewey | 811/.6 |
| Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
| Dimensions | 7 x 10 |
| Guided Reading Level | U |
| ATOS Reading Level | 4.6 |
| Accelerated Reader® Quiz | 195373 |
| Accelerated Reader® Points | 0.5 |
| Features | Author/Illustrator note, Awards, Original artwork, Reviewed, Starred Reviews, and eSource |
Author, Narrator: Irene Latham
Irene Latham is the author of more than a dozen current and forthcoming works of poetry, fiction, and picture books. Her work includes Charlotte Huck Honor Book and ALA Notable Children’s Book Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship (co-written with Charles Waters) and the Caldecott Honor Book The Cat Man of Aleppo(co-written by Karim Shamsi-Basha). In 2016 she won the ILA Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award. Visit her at www.irenelatham.com.
Author, Narrator: Charles Waters
Charles Waters is a children’s poet, author, anthologist and actor based in Georgia. His book Mascot (co-written with Traci Sorell) has received an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor and a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor. His other books (co-written with Irene Latham) include: African Town (winner of the 2023 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction), Dictionary For A Better World: Poems, Quotes and Anecdotes from A—Z, Be A Bridge, and the Charlotte Huck Honor book Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship. You can visit him at: www.charleswaterspoetry.com
Illustrator: Selina Alko
Selina Alko spends her days melding words and mixed-media art to convey stories of hope and inspiration—as well as an alternative viewpoint. Her books include The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage, Can I Touch Your Hair?, Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama, I is for Immigrants, and Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport, which was a National Jewish Book Award Finalist and selected as a Best Children’s Book of the Year by Bank Street College of Education and School Library Journal. Selina lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Illustrator: Sean Qualls
Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!
Can I Touch Your Hair?
Two poets, one white and one black, explore race and childhood in this must-have collection tailored to provoke thought and conversation. How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don’t know each other . . . and… View available downloads →
Addressing Race and Racism with Readers
This week and throughout the coming month, the United States marks several notable anniversaries: The 2nd anniversary of George Floyd’s death on May 25, the 101st anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 30, and Juneteenth on June 19 commemorating the emancipation of enslaved… View →
Awards
- Utah Beehive Award Nominee
- Blue Hen Book Award Nominee
- William Allen White Children's Book Awards Master List
- Great Lakes Great Books Award Nominee
- NCTE Notable Poetry Books
- Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Nominee
- White Ravens
- ALA Notable Children's Books
- Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction Honor Book
- Cybils Finalist
- Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Books of the Year
Reviews
A Fuse #8 Production
“It took four people to bring us Can I Touch Your Hair? and countless others to bring it to our library and bookstore shelves. It takes only one person to buy it and show it to a kid. And it takes only one to use it as the conversation starter we’ve needed for so long.”—A Fuse #8 Production
Publishers Weekly
“[D]elicately demonstrate[s] the complexity of identity and the power of communication to build friendships.”—starred, Publishers Weekly
Booklist
“Young readers searching for means to have difficult, emotional, and engaged discussions about race will find an enlightening resource in Irene and Charles’ explorations.”—Booklist
Carole Boston Weatherford
“A fresh and heartwarming take on bridging the racial divide.”—Carole Boston Weatherford, author of Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement