• Wash Day with Mama

Wash Day with Mama

Author
Publication Date
January 14, 2025
Genre / Grade Band
Fiction /  2nd − 3rd
Wash Day with Mama

Description

This stunning picture book takes a joyful look into the loving and long process of a hair wash day and the beautiful bond between a daughter and mother. Perfect for Mother's Day or all year round!

I love Sundays, because Sundays are wash days. And wash days are just for us.

Filled with heartwarming illustrations, Wash Day with Mama centers on a little girl cherishing each step of their hair washing routine while Mama imparts her wisdom and stresses the importance of self-care, loving yourself, and being proud of who you are. The process of washing and taking care of Black hair takes time and effort, but this poignant story shows how it is an act of self-love and nurtures a special connection between mother and daughter.

For the Black community, washing their hair can feel like an event in and of itself, and that's why it has been christened "wash day." For many, wash day isn't just a routine, but an intimate ritual that is a symbol of self-love and pride. This self-care practice, although individual to the person, can root them in their culture and allow them to embrace generations of hair traditions. This book shows the love and care of washing Black hair and compels us to reflect on shared moments that we may take for granted.

Publication date
January 14, 2025
Classification
Fiction
Page Count
32
ISBN-13
9780593810651
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Crown Books for Young Readers
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV015010 - Juvenile Fiction | Health & Daily Living | Daily Activities
JUV013060 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Parents
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
Library of Congress categories
African Americans
Picture books
Mothers and daughters
Hairdressing
Monica Mikai
Monica Mikai (MonicaMikai.com) has illustrated numerous picture books, including Build a House (by Rhiannon Giddens), My Name Is a Story (by Ashanti), The Proudest Color (by Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou), You Are Getting Sleepy (by Lori Alexander), and Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice (by Sarah Warren). What the Garden Tells Me is her debut as author-illustrator. She has a BA in art and elementary education from Rider University and an MFA in painting from the New York Studio School. When Monica isn't working, you can find her outdoors enjoying nature with her husband and two sons.