Book details
Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference
Description
At school, Selina is teased for her big, frizzy hair. Kids call her 'mophead.' She ties her hair up this way and that way and tries to fit in. Until one day-Sam Hunt plays a role-Selina gives up the game. She decides to let her hair out, to embrace her difference, to be WILD! Selina takes us through special moments in her extraordinary life. She becomes one of the first Pasifika women to hold a PhD. She reads for the Queen of England and Samoan royalty. She meets Barack Obama. And then she is named the New Zealand Poet Laureate. She picks up her special tokotoko, and notices something. It has wild hair coming out the end. It looks like a mop. A kid on the Waiheke ferry teases her about it. So she tells him a story . . . This is an inspirational graphic memoir, full of wry humour, that will appeal to young readers and adults alike. Illustrated with wit and verve by the author-NZ's bestselling Poet Laureate-Mophead tells the true story of a New Zealand woman realising how her difference can make a difference.
Age
7-9
Text complexity
beginner
Length
84 pages
Book in series
#1
Why to read
- The book provides a window into the Pacific Islander experience, particularly that of the Samoan culture, which is rarely represented in mainstream literature. Reading it can broaden one's cultural understanding and appreciation for diversity.
- Selina Tusitala Marsh is an acclaimed poet, and her talent shines through in the lyrical and rhythmic language of the book. The illustrations complement the text beautifully, making it not only a literary journey but also a visual one.
- The book is particularly empowering for children, as it addresses themes of bullying, self-acceptance, and the courage to stand out. It encourages young readers to be confident in who they are and to use their voices to make a difference in the world.
- Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference is an autobiographical picture book that tells the story of Selina Tusitala Marsh's own experiences with her identity and her hair. It serves as an inspiration for readers to embrace their unique traits and understand that their differences can be a source of strength and empowerment.