English
3+
Black Joy
Hair
Girls Outdoors
Poetry
Samara Cole Doyon & Geneva Bowers
summary
Magic Like That is the most beautiful ode from our narrator to her hair. As she sits on the floor with her mom combing through it, the young girl thinks about other hairstyles she’s had in the past and how it showcases her strength, tangible and intangible.
I love that it shows the narrator outdoors and enjoying all sorts of different activities like hiking and swimming. The text is poetic and lyrical. You might recognize author Samara Cole Doyon from another favorite of mine: Magnificent Homespun Brown! Illustrator Geneva Bowers is also behind two of my favorite board books: Curls & Glow. With such a powerful team behind Magic Like That, how could it not be a masterpiece? This book is filled with joy and imagination, something that all bookshelves need.
This book was kindly sent by Lee and Low, but all opinions are my own. This book is also a contender for the #Bookstagang_BestOf2021 list!
Samara Cole Doyon
Samara Cole Doyon is a second generation Haitian American living in the state of Maine–a region of unceded Wabanaki / Abenaki territory where half the roots of her family tree reside. She is a poet and educator, holding a BA in English, with graduate-level teacher training from the University of Southern Maine. She has been a regular contributor at Black Girl in Maine Media, has been featured in the Deep Water poetry column of the Portland Press Herald, and has authored children’s books Magnificent Homespun Brown (Tilbury House Publishers, January, 2020) and Magic Like That (Lee & Low Books, September, 2021). She lives with her husband, two children, and three guinea pigs in Lewiston.
Geneva Bowers
Geneva Bowers is a self-taught illustrator based in Western North Carolina. Geneva loves manipulating color and adding whimsy with a touch of realism and calm.