What do you think?
Rate this book
Oshún and Me: A Story of Love and Braids
Tenderly illustrated by Alleanna Harris, Adiba Nelson's debut picture book Oshún and Me is a heartwarming ode to family, identity, and the beauty of braided hair. Also available in Spanish!
It’s Sunday, and that means it’s Hair Day! As Mami weaves gold and cowrie shells into Yadira’s hair, she tells her the story of the goddess Oshún, showing Yadi how her Afro Latin heritage is lovingly tucked into each braid and shell.
The next day, Yadi arrives for her first day at a new school. She's nervous about making friends, but with her beautiful braids, the click-clack of the cowrie shells, and a little guidance from Oshún, she finds she has everything she needs to be her best, most authentic self.
A letter from the author and visual examples of different kinds of braided hairstyles are included in the back of the book.
It’s Sunday, and that means it’s Hair Day! As Mami weaves gold and cowrie shells into Yadira’s hair, she tells her the story of the goddess Oshún, showing Yadi how her Afro Latin heritage is lovingly tucked into each braid and shell.
The next day, Yadi arrives for her first day at a new school. She's nervous about making friends, but with her beautiful braids, the click-clack of the cowrie shells, and a little guidance from Oshún, she finds she has everything she needs to be her best, most authentic self.
A letter from the author and visual examples of different kinds of braided hairstyles are included in the back of the book.
- GenresPicture Books
Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 4, 2024
This is a high-quality audiobook production with a light instrumental soundtrack dominated by drums and rhythm. This is beautifully and excitedly narrated by the author, Adiba Nelson. The audio is engaging and fun.
This is about a Sunday wash day ritual for Yadira. I love this books focus on the joy and expression involved in natural Black hair styles, the accouterments, and style. During the process of fixing her hair, Yadira'a Mami, tells her the story of Orisha Oshun's creation story. This is a beautiful expression of West African historical mythology and how it relates to the modern Diaspora and grounds us with the root knowledge of our ancestors. I am advance ordering this for my granddaughter. My own small Oshun:)
Thank you to Adiba Nelson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This is about a Sunday wash day ritual for Yadira. I love this books focus on the joy and expression involved in natural Black hair styles, the accouterments, and style. During the process of fixing her hair, Yadira'a Mami, tells her the story of Orisha Oshun's creation story. This is a beautiful expression of West African historical mythology and how it relates to the modern Diaspora and grounds us with the root knowledge of our ancestors. I am advance ordering this for my granddaughter. My own small Oshun:)
Thank you to Adiba Nelson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
December 3, 2024
I was able to listen to an ARC (audio) of the book Oshun and Me: A Story of Love and Braids by Adiba Nelson. The audio version of the book was narrated by the author herself and it was a joy to listen to. Without the pictures to follow along with, I had to rely not only on the author's writing, but also her narration to get a visual in my head. The story was well written and was narrated beautifully that I was able to see images in my head and imagine everything that was being described.
I loved how the story of Oshun was woven into the book and not only provided a backstory while Yadira's hair is being braided, but tied into her life, as she went to school the next morning. The sound effects that accompany the story and a wonderful addition and the author's note was a fantastic bonus.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I loved how the story of Oshun was woven into the book and not only provided a backstory while Yadira's hair is being braided, but tied into her life, as she went to school the next morning. The sound effects that accompany the story and a wonderful addition and the author's note was a fantastic bonus.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
December 17, 2024
Oshún and Me: A Story of Love and Braids, written and narrated by Adiba Nelson, is a short story where we hear of the experience of Sunday, which is hair day. Yadira gets to pick out what will go into her hairstyle, and learns about the history of her ancestors from Africa, and the Goddess Oshún. When Yadira gets nervous at school, she remembers what her mother taught her, and is able to be brave and make friends.
I really appreciated this book, the way that it shared different forms of hairstyles and braids, and the lessons the main character learned from her mother. I feel like this would be a great book for children to learn to be accepting of who they are, and also for little ones who might be exposed to different cultures or have different heritages.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and illustrator of this book for an ALC, in exchange for an honest review.
I really appreciated this book, the way that it shared different forms of hairstyles and braids, and the lessons the main character learned from her mother. I feel like this would be a great book for children to learn to be accepting of who they are, and also for little ones who might be exposed to different cultures or have different heritages.
Thank you to NetGalley, and to the author, publisher, and illustrator of this book for an ALC, in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2024
4 stars
I read a digital advanced copy courtesy of the publisher.
A young mixed race person settles in while having their hair and braided and mother telling her why cowrie shells are important and connect to Yoruba heritage. Depictions of children in many shades with hair braids shows the pride in hair braiding that is embraced by many cultures. The main character uses an assistive device to move around but the story doesn't focus on this at all, normalizing the device's use.
I read a digital advanced copy courtesy of the publisher.
A young mixed race person settles in while having their hair and braided and mother telling her why cowrie shells are important and connect to Yoruba heritage. Depictions of children in many shades with hair braids shows the pride in hair braiding that is embraced by many cultures. The main character uses an assistive device to move around but the story doesn't focus on this at all, normalizing the device's use.
January 7, 2025
I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.
I loved this beautiful story about a girl and her hair day, learning about Oshun, and gaining the strength to be herself at a new school. This book is a wonderful story for children learning to love and embrace their differences and commonalities.
I loved this beautiful story about a girl and her hair day, learning about Oshun, and gaining the strength to be herself at a new school. This book is a wonderful story for children learning to love and embrace their differences and commonalities.
December 11, 2024
**e-ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
This is a really cute story about a young girl learning about her culture at home through her mom. It’s a wonderful book to share with your kids or to use as a read-aloud in the classroom.
This is a really cute story about a young girl learning about her culture at home through her mom. It’s a wonderful book to share with your kids or to use as a read-aloud in the classroom.
December 27, 2024
This is a sweet, warm story where a little girl nervous about going to a new school shares her culture with her new friends. I listened to the audiobook, which was quick and warm-hearted. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.
December 28, 2024
Thank you Libro.fm for the educator ALC! This audiobook read by the author is a whole PRODUCTION! The music and sounds of the beads are just gorgeous. I wish I had the pictures to go along with it, but I’m now excited to see the book when it comes out in January :)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews