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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 BooksChildrens
Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2025
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35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 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.
March 19, 2025
AMAZING READ - I borrowed this from the library for my girlie but I def want to OWN this
As a pro black/pro African reader I loved this story. It was educational not only for my daughter but for me too, learning about Oshun and who she was.
A TRUE Goddess, as a “stolen child from Africa” a lot of my books are based off seeking and finding power in our skin and ancestors… this did just that
Embracing who we are. What we have to offer and all that we can be as Black children!
I love this so much.
As a pro black/pro African reader I loved this story. It was educational not only for my daughter but for me too, learning about Oshun and who she was.
A TRUE Goddess, as a “stolen child from Africa” a lot of my books are based off seeking and finding power in our skin and ancestors… this did just that
Embracing who we are. What we have to offer and all that we can be as Black children!
I love this so much.
June 7, 2025
5 stars
Loved the disability rep and the showcasing of African braids and storytelling. Just a beautiful work all around.
Loved the disability rep and the showcasing of African braids and storytelling. Just a beautiful work all around.
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 :)
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
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.
May 18, 2025
Yadira's story is lovely about the reason behind her braids and the shells her mother ties to them. We then learn she is going to a new school and is nervous, but uses the stories her mother told her to find strength to be herself. It works, other children join her on the swings and the laughter fills her heart with joy.
My favorite part of this book is the diverse equipment Yadira uses to move around and that is not at all a central part of this lovely story. Thank you to Adiba Nelson, author, and Alleanna Harris, illustrator for this beautiful book explaining the cultural connection of braids as well as including a character with a mobility challenge. This will mean so much to my students!
My favorite part of this book is the diverse equipment Yadira uses to move around and that is not at all a central part of this lovely story. Thank you to Adiba Nelson, author, and Alleanna Harris, illustrator for this beautiful book explaining the cultural connection of braids as well as including a character with a mobility challenge. This will mean so much to my students!
April 3, 2025
3 stars (I liked it)
Another book that I wanted to like more than I did. First, I did not like the way the illustrator drew the noses. But that wasn't a big deal. I think why I didn't love the book is that I very recently read another book about a mother and daughter having a hair braiding day that I just thought was much better and I couldn't help but compare this one (the book was Wash Day with Mama). I also feel like this book tried to cover a bit too much.
Another book that I wanted to like more than I did. First, I did not like the way the illustrator drew the noses. But that wasn't a big deal. I think why I didn't love the book is that I very recently read another book about a mother and daughter having a hair braiding day that I just thought was much better and I couldn't help but compare this one (the book was Wash Day with Mama). I also feel like this book tried to cover a bit too much.
January 20, 2025
Such a beautiful audiobook with fantastic intro music, narration, sound effects, instrumental music, and the overall story. This engaging story takes its readers from a typical Sunday wash day for Yadira to learn how her African culture and mythology ties into a cowrie shell that are adorned into her braids. We are then transported to a school day and how her braids support her and she sees other children have different braids.
Thank you to the author, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.
Thank you to the author, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book 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.
May 22, 2025
Girl in a wheelchair starts at a new school after her mother braid her hair and tells her the story of why they add a shell on the front to lie on her forehead.
I really liked that there was meaning and a story behind the braiding and that the girl's handicap was not mentioned in the text, but was evident in the illustrations.
A great black hair book with meaning and feeling!
I really liked that there was meaning and a story behind the braiding and that the girl's handicap was not mentioned in the text, but was evident in the illustrations.
A great black hair book with meaning and feeling!
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.
June 8, 2025
I was surprised by this book. It is so well done. Affirming and reassuring while also sharing cultural details for those who may not be familiar. I loved the seamless disability representation most of all. Yay for intersectionality!
July 31, 2025
Honestly, I'm so happy for this generation and future generations of children that have a broader access to titles like this. It was absolutely beautiful. The connection to Oshun and hair braiding and self-love was spectacular.
March 14, 2025
Very cute story about Black hair and Black culture.
July 31, 2025
Gorgeously illustrated story that has a little bit of all the best things - heritage, disability rep, information, empowerment, and love.
February 4, 2025
Yadi, una niña espectacular se desarrolla tras las hojas de este hermoso cuento. Realmente “Ochun y Yo: Una Historia de amor y Trenzas” capta la importancia de la inclusividad. Como maestra de educación especial, mi meta es que mis alumnos se sientan validados e importantes. Yadi, una niña Afrolatina con una discapacidad física es la protagonista de esta bella historia. No te la puedes perder!
May 26, 2025
Such a sweet story. I’ve read it to a few kiddos and they’ve all loved the story and illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews