Luly and the Magic Comb Once upon a time in a small town, there lived a girl named Luly. She was a kind-hearted and adventurous girl who loved exploring the world around her. Luly had long, shiny golden hair that she loved taking care of. Every night, her mother would comb her hair with a special comb that had been passed down through generations. This comb was no ordinary comb. It had a secret power - the power to make dreams come true.
It had a secret power - the power to make dreams come true. Luly's mother had always told her that if she combed her hair with the magic comb before bed and made a wish, her dreams would come true. One evening, as Luly was combing her hair, she wished for something extraordinary to happen.
Candid Cocoa
Lily's birthday gift from Mum is just a fancy wide-toothed comb. But when she uses it to detangle her brown curls she, suddenly, imagines herself transported to outer space, dancing on planets, racing against rockets, and whizzing down slides made of rainbows.
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.
Brown wrote the book due to concerns about the lack of diverse literature for her dual-heritage children. And what she achieves, here, is a sense of playfulness, freedom, and imagination less often attributed to young Black characters, with a nod to an Afro hair-combing tradition steeped in Black history.
Reading about Lily and her empowering comb will undoubtedly boost children's self-esteem and encourage them to follow their dreams whatever their ethnicity or gender. I enjoyed the spread where Lily imagines various careers including the traditionally male-dominated fields of weightlifting, flying planes, and science. Lily's whirlwind space adventure could have, perhaps, been afforded a few more pages as it seemed to end as quickly as it began.
With its highly irregular rhyme and meter, this text is most suited to shared reading at home. Young children could predict Lily's birthday gift and where she will travel to with her comb. Afterwards, they could draw and talk about made-up magical adventures, using their imaginations to extend the original story. If you had Lily's magic comb, which amazing place would you travel to next? How will you get there? What would you see there? What would you do there?
The text also provides opportunities for hands-on activities. Children might enjoy comb painting, making rainbows or 'slimy cakes' with home-made 'slime'. The home corner could be kitted out with different types/sizes of hair grooming equipment: Afro picks, twist sponge brushes, empty and clean hair-grease containers, hairnets/nightcaps, and headwraps so children can explore and create their own narratives.
I adored illustrator Kate Hazell's powerful central spread with Lily's brown-skinned face taking up the entire space from edge and edge. Hazell's eye-catching kaleidoscopic scenes are full of energy, and evoke that feeling of being in the middle of a quirky dream. Her attention to detail over the variation in Lily's hair-curl pattern is also fabulous.
This engaging, positive story encourages children, especially Black girls, to be proud of their natural hair, and of who they are. And in an age where discrimination against Black British schoolchildren with Afro hair is still prevalent, the more books we have like this, the better!
Note for parents: Read about the Halo Code, a set of guidelines drawn up by a collective of 30 Black students to guard against Afro hair discrimination in the UK ( halocollective.co.uk).
Just as she finished combing, a bright light filled the room, and before her stood a magical fairy. The fairy introduced herself as Stella and explained that the magic comb had chosen Luly as its new guardian. Stella revealed that the magic comb had the power to transport Luly to different worlds and grant her any wish she desired. Excited by this newfound discovery, Luly asked Stella to take her on an adventure. With a wave of her wand, they were whisked away to a beautiful enchanted forest. In the forest, Luly encountered talking animals, fairies, and other magical creatures. Together, they solved puzzles, helped those in need, and explored hidden treasures. Each night, Luly would return home with incredible stories to tell. As time passed, Luly became wiser and used the magic comb to grant wishes not just for herself but for others as well. She helped people in need, bringing smiles to their faces and spreading happiness wherever she went. One day, Luly stumbled upon a village plagued by a terrible drought. The flowers were wilting, and the people were desperate for water. Luly knew she had to do something to help. She used the magic comb to summon rain clouds and bring water back to the village. The grateful villagers celebrated Luly as their hero, and she felt a sense of fulfillment she had never felt before. Luly continued her adventures, making the world a better place one wish at a time. She learned that true magic lies not just in the power of the comb but in the kindness and compassion within her heart. And so, Luly and the magic comb lived happily ever after, using their powers to make dreams come true and bring joy to those around them. Luly's adventures taught her that sometimes, the greatest magic of all is found within oneself..
Reviews for "Discover the secrets of Luly and the Magic Comb and unleash your true potential"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Luly and the magic comb". The story was unoriginal and lacked any depth. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced. The illustrations were also subpar, with little attention to detail. Overall, it felt like a rushed and poorly thought-out book.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Luly and the magic comb" was a complete waste of time. The plot was nonsensical and hard to follow. The writing style was choppy and confusing. I couldn't connect with the characters at all, and the supposed "magic" of the story was predictable and cliché. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Mike - 2 stars - Honestly, "Luly and the magic comb" was just not my cup of tea. The storytelling felt disjointed, and the pacing was off. The magical elements were introduced abruptly and weren't properly explained. I didn't find the book engaging or captivating in any way. Maybe it was just not my genre, but I wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I found "Luly and the magic comb" to be quite underwhelming. The writing was basic and lacked any creativity. The plot was predictable and the characters lacked depth and development. The illustrations were mediocre and didn't add anything to the story. Overall, it was a forgettable read for me.