Happy to Be Nappy, written by bell hooks and illustrated by Chris Raschka, is a children’s celebration of Black hair, texture, style, and self-recognition. Its rhythmic language and expressive artwork affirm everyday beauty without asking children to measure themselves against Eurocentric standards.
This page describes the 32-page Jump At The Sun board book identified by ISBN 9781484788417, published January 3, 2017.
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Overview
Happy to Be Nappy is a picture book by bell hooks with illustrations by Chris Raschka. Through playful language and energetic images, it celebrates Black hair in its many textures and styles. The book offers affirmation at an age when children are beginning to notice how appearance is described and valued.
The title reclaims a word that has often been used negatively and places it within joy, tenderness, and pride. Rather than presenting hair as a problem to solve, the book treats it as part of family, creativity, and everyday beauty.
Major themes
Self-recognition
Children benefit from seeing features like their own represented with warmth and delight. The book makes recognition central rather than exceptional.
Language and affirmation
Rhythm and repetition make the text suitable for reading aloud. Positive language becomes a shared practice between child and reader.
Words and pictures together
Raschka’s illustrations do interpretive work alongside hooks’ text, creating movement and personality rather than simply documenting hairstyles.
Book details
| Full title | Happy to Be Nappy |
|---|---|
| Author | bell hooks |
| Illustrator | Chris Raschka |
| Publisher | Jump At The Sun |
| Publication date | January 3, 2017 |
| Format | Board book |
| Length | 32 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1484788419 |
| ISBN-13 | 9781484788417 |
| Language | English |
Edition note
This page describes the 2017 Jump At The Sun board book. Use ISBN 9781484788417 when comparing it with other editions.
Related reading
Be Boy Buzz, Skin Again, and Homemade Love offer related paths through hooks’ writing for children.
Who should read it?
The book is designed for young children and shared reading. Families, early-childhood classrooms, and libraries may find it useful for conversations about hair, identity, representation, and joy.
This empowering book celebrates the natural beauty of African American hair, inspiring girls to embrace and love their unique curls. It’s a powerful message of self-acceptance and confidence, encouraging young readers to celebrate their natural beauty with pride.
This delightful children’s book celebrates the joy of black hair. Written by bell hooks, it joyfully portrays the beauty and versatility of hair through colorful illustrations and empowering words. It’s a celebration of self-expression and happiness, resonating with readers of all ages.
This is just a kids’ book…a happy, nappy kids’ book…that expresses joy for black hair. This is how I think about black hair. Bell Hooks wrote the words here; she was unambiguous: This can be a joy. I’m happy to be nappy.
A group of little girls with natural hair textures learn about the many things they can do with the hair they were born with. My nephew just had to read this book with the little African-American girl on the cover! I immensely love the art in this book.
I LOVE MY HAIR!!! This book encourages African American girls to be comfortable with and love their natural hair. It took me a long time to embrace my natural hair, so I can only imagine how children may feel about rocking their natural locks.
This story is about little girls with natural hair textures who learn to like the hair they are born with and the many things they can do with it. Happy to Be Nappy empowers girls to know they should be proud of their hair.
Bell Hooks’ Happy to Be Nappy uses beautiful descriptive language to teach little brown girls to love the natural state of their hair. The lyrical, poetic words bounce along the pages like the girls they describe, concluding they are “ just all girl happy! Happy to be nappy hair!”
Happy to Be Nappy is a matter-of-fact book that describes different styles of African-American hair…primarily for girls. It takes something that is perceived as unfavorable in the black community (nappy hair) and validates it.
This is a great kid’s book. I gave it to my little sister when she had a lovely fro so she would know that, even though none of us had afros, it was OK to have different hair and to be happy within herself.
This book is controversial because of the vocabulary used to describe the girl’s hair. However, its message is very positive, and I think it is essential to promote positive body image even from a very young age.
I LOVE this book. When I bought a copy, I heard bell hooks speak, and it was one of the most empowering experiences I have ever had. I have an autographed copy that I hope to give to my happy-to-be-nappy children someday. It is an empowering and beautiful book. Simple. And beautiful.
This is a toddler book with thick, hard-coated pages. The story flows like a rap song.