On THE FIRST DAY of kindergarten, Alexis walked into the classroom and strode
purposefully to the read-ing area. She reached for Natasha Anastasia Tarpley's I Love My
Hair; looked at the girl on the cover, and smiling at her aunt, saicl,“Hey, she's got beads like
me!" Merrily shaking her own braids, Alexis asked,“Teacher, are you going to read this to us
today?" Although not in my plans, I did read the book aloud that day, and reread it aloud
many times that year, eventually giving Alexis her own copy to keep at home. Other children …