Once upon a time, in a small town nestled amongst rolling hills, there lived a young girl named Lily. She was an adventurous and imaginative girl, always seeking new and exciting experiences. One day, while exploring in the attic of her old family home, Lily stumbled upon a dusty and forgotten box. Curiosity piqued, she carefully opened the box and inside, nestled amongst old photo albums and trinkets, she found a beautiful comb. The comb was made of a shimmering silver metal and adorned with intricate designs. Lily was immediately captivated by its enchanting beauty.
Written by musician VV Brown, this empowering picture book celebrates the magic of afro-textured hair. The beautiful illustrations show black women with natural hair following their dreams and smashing their goals. We see a scientist, a mountaineer, a mother, a drummer, a botanist, a weightlifter, a ballerina and even a deep sea diver! The message is loud and clear – Lily’s future is in her hands and she can be anything she wants to be. All she has to do is believe in herself.
There are, already, a few picture books celebrating Black hair, but this latest beautifully finished debut from musician VV Brown adds a fun, fresh, and magical element to everyday haircare stories. I enjoyed the spread where Lily imagines various careers including the traditionally male-dominated fields of weightlifting, flying planes, and science.
Lily was immediately captivated by its enchanting beauty. As she held the comb in her hands, a magical energy seemed to emanate from it. Lily sensed that there was something special about this comb, something that held the promise of a grand adventure.
Lily and the Magic Comb
by VV Brown & Kate Hazell
It’s Lily’s birthday and her Mum has given her a beautifully wrapped box with a resplendent yellow bow. What could be inside? As she unties the ribbon and tears the paper Lily wriggles with excitement. She knows Mum’s present will be very special – and she’s right!
Inside the box is a sparkling wide-toothed comb decorated with pink stars. As she stares at it in wonder her Mum explains that this is not just any old comb. This is Lily’s special comb and it is filled with history and magic. Using it will transport her anywhere her imagination wants to take her!
As Lily pulls the teeth of the comb through her abundant curls she wiggles her nose to activate the magic and whooosh! She finds herself flying through space and time, taking tea with an astronaut, dancing on the rings of saturn and eating cake with aliens.
Eventually she slides down a rainbow and back in to bed, clutching her wonderful gift tightly in her hand. As she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep her mother gently whispers in her ear, letting her know that her beautiful curls are a crown which she should cherish.
Written by musician VV Brown, this empowering picture book celebrates the magic of afro-textured hair. The beautiful illustrations show black women with natural hair following their dreams and smashing their goals. We see a scientist, a mountaineer, a mother, a drummer, a botanist, a weightlifter, a ballerina and even a deep sea diver! The message is loud and clear – Lily’s future is in her hands and she can be anything she wants to be. All she has to do is believe in herself.
Ivy really enjoyed reading this one. Her best friend has afro hair so the story opened up a wider conversation for us, which I am always very grateful for. (It also had an unexpected side effect. Even though Ivy naturally has very straight, fine hair she hates having it combed through when it’s wet. After reading this story we pretended her comb was magic and she didn’t wriggle one bit!)
This book publishes in the UK on December 7th 2020 and you can pre-order a signed copy here: https://www.wokekidzshop.co.uk/product/lily-and-the-magic-comb
Disclosure: The author provided us with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book publishes in the UK on December 7th 2020 and you can pre-order a signed copy here: https://www.wokekidzshop.co.uk/product/lily-and-the-magic-comb
With a mischievous smile, she decided to test her theory. Lily gently ran the comb through her long, golden hair and instantly, a whirlwind of vibrant colors enveloped her. She felt herself being whisked away to a magical realm, a place she had only read about in storybooks. In this new world, everything seemed to come to life. Talking animals greeted her with warm smiles, and unicorns pranced gracefully through fields of wildflowers. Lily felt an overwhelming sense of joy and wonder as she took in the sights and sounds of this mystical land. As she explored further, Lily discovered that with each stroke of the comb through her hair, she could unlock different powers. The comb seemed to have a limitless array of abilities, allowing Lily to shape-shift into various animals, control the elements, and even communicate with plants. With her newfound powers, Lily became a hero in this magical realm, helping those in need and spreading love and kindness wherever she went. The residents of this land admired her bravery and adored her kind heart. But as much as Lily loved her adventures in this enchanting world, she still missed her family and friends back in her own town. With a heavy heart, she knew that she would have to find a way to say goodbye to this magical realm and return to her old life. With a deep breath, Lily took one last stroke of the comb through her hair, bidding farewell to the mystical land and all the friends she had made. As she emerged back in her attic, the comb in her hands lost its shimmering glow. Lily knew that the comb had only revealed a glimpse of the possibilities that lay within her. She realized that the true magic was not in the comb itself, but in her own imagination and courage. From that day forward, Lily carried the memory of her adventures with her, inspiring her to embrace new challenges and embrace the magic within herself. And although the comb no longer held its mystical powers, it remained a treasured reminder of the boundless potential that Lily possessed. The end..
Reviews for "Lily and the Magic Comb: A Tale of Adventure and Friendship"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Lily and the magic comb". The story was predictable and the characters felt flat. I couldn't connect with Lily and found her journey to be uninteresting. Additionally, the illustrations were lackluster and didn't bring any magic to the story. Overall, I thought it was a forgettable children's book that didn't live up to its potential.
- Sarah - 3 stars - While "Lily and the magic comb" had an interesting premise, I felt like the execution fell short. The pacing was off, with some parts feeling rushed and others dragging on. The writing was also subpar, lacking depth and emotion. I was hoping for a magical and enchanting experience, but instead, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.
- Michael - 2 stars - I found "Lily and the magic comb" to be quite dull and unoriginal. The storyline felt like something I've read a hundred times before, and there were no surprises or twists to keep me interested. The dialogue was also cliché, and the characters lacked depth. The illustrations were the only saving grace, but even they couldn't salvage the overall mediocrity of the book. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and captivating read.
- Emily - 1 star - "Lily and the magic comb" was a big disappointment for me. The plot was extremely predictable, and I could see every twist coming from a mile away. The writing style was very simplistic and didn't draw me in. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked complexity. The book felt like it was written for a much younger audience, and I struggled to connect with the story. Overall, it was a forgettable read that I wouldn't recommend.