Don't Touch My Hair!
on Goodreads (1,690)
What’s inside...
An entertaining picture book that teaches the importance of asking for permission first as a young girl attempts to escape the curious hands that want to touch her hair. It seems that wherever Aria goes, someone wants to touch her hair. In the street, strangers reach for her fluffy curls; and even under the sea, in the jungle, and in space, she’s chased by a mermaid, monkeys, and poked by aliens…until, finally, Aria has had enough! Author-illustrator Sharee Miller takes the tradition of appreciation of black hair to a new, fresh, level as she doesn’t seek to convince or remind young readers that their curls are beautiful–she simply acknowledges black beauty while telling a fun, imaginative story.
Age
2-6
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Aria
Discussion points
How did Aria feel when people touched her hair without asking? Can you think of a time when you felt the same way?
Why do you think it's important to ask for permission before touching something that belongs to someone else?
What are some ways Aria tried to avoid having her hair touched?
How did Aria solve her problem in the story? What would you have done in her place?
What did you learn about personal boundaries and respecting others' space from this book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing a personal story where your boundaries were respected or not respected, to make the topic relatable.
Praise your child for thoughtful responses and elaborating on their answers to encourage deeper thinking.
Encourage your child to think about how they would feel in Aria's shoes, fostering empathy and understanding.
Discuss the importance of consent and personal boundaries, using examples from the book and real life to emphasize the message.
Use the illustrations in the book to point out non-verbal cues that indicate Aria's feelings about her hair being touched.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Respecting Personal Boundaries
Explanation: The protagonist, Aria, repeatedly asks others not to touch her hair, underscoring the importance of respecting one's personal space and boundaries.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of asking for permission before touching someone else or their belongings, fostering respect and empathy in interpersonal interactions.
Example Lesson: Assertiveness
Explanation: Aria demonstrates assertiveness by standing up for herself and clearly communicating her discomfort when others invade her personal space.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to voice their own discomforts and establish boundaries, essential skills for personal development and self-advocacy.
Example Lesson: Appreciation of Diversity
Explanation: Through Aria's experiences, the book celebrates diverse hair textures and styles, highlighting the beauty in differences.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to appreciate and embrace diversity in themselves and others, promoting inclusivity and reducing biases.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: When Aria explains why she doesn’t like her hair being touched, it offers readers a perspective on how their actions could affect others.
Real-World Application: This can help children understand the impact of their actions on others, promoting empathy and considerate behavior.
Example Lesson: Conflict Resolution
Explanation: Aria finds peaceful and clear ways to resolve her repeated issue of people touching her hair without her consent.
Real-World Application: This provides a model for children on how to handle conflicts calmly and effectively, teaching problem-solving skills.