Tonya Abari​

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Locs, Not Dreads

Selah can't wait to show off her newly loc'd hair at school, but when she bounces off the bus, her classmates react with whispers and a word Selah hasn't heard before: dreadlocks. The word dread makes her uneasy: is there something scary about her hair? Selah's family shares stories about standing up to hair discrimination and why they love their locs, helping Selah return to school with confidence, because there's absolutely nothing dreadful about her hair!
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Written with several elements of the African American oral tradition -- LOCS, NOT DREADS celebrates the rich history and beauty of naturally loc'd styles. Perfect for readers of CROWN: An Ode to the Fresh Cut and Hair Love.

Publisher: Innovation Press
Publication Date: 09/052023
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781959244028
​Preorder from Bookshop

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About Tonya

​Tonya Abari is former teacher turned multigenre freelance journalist/writer, book + product reviewer, and editor. Her words can be found in Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Good Housekeeping, ZORA, The Writer Magazine, and many more! Tonya is a Hurston Wright Foundation Writers Week and Carnegie Hall NeOn Arts Program alum in nonfiction. Additionally, Tonya received 2020 New Voices in Nonfiction and MidSouth DEI scholarships from SCBWI. She is also a 2021 We Need Diverse Books Mentee. When Abari isn't writing, reviewing, or editing (PB-adult), she enjoys spending time with family, discovering new places, collecting healing crystals, and unschooling with her inquisitive and free-spirited daughter.

You can learn more about Tonya at http://www.tonyaabari.com
Instagram: @iamtabari
Twitter: @TAbaris_World