The illustrations are very strong and manage to capture the emotion being expressed in every scene. Some of the text almost feels like a caption, offering the reader a bit of context for what they are seeing. It also lets Miller’s illustrations do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of telling the story. The lack of text is not a negative aspect, and actually makes the story feel focused and concise. I believe this is due to the frequent use of two panel illustrations and the lack of text on the page. Finally, Aria learns how to say “no” and learns how to articulate her needs as people around her learn the importance of asking permission.ĭon’t Touch My Hair! feels like a short read, even at 32 pages. Aria tries to escape the unwanted invasion of her personal space but finds that being away from others makes her lonely. However, her beautiful head of hair seems to come with a strange consequence - everyone else, including a giant purple dragon and little green aliens, wants to touch her hair. The story follows little Aria, a young girl who loves her soft, curly, and bouncy locks.

I read a digital version on the Chicago Public Library website. Sharee Miller’s picturebook, Don’t Touch My Hair!, may not have won any awards (at least that I am aware of), but it has been recommended to me by several educators, some of whom were classmates of mine at National Louis. Recommended to fans of Miller's artwork, and to anyone searching for children's stories about setting and respecting personal boundaries.

I think it can do just that, and because it is entertaining and non-judgmental, it can do so in a way that is most helpful. The importance of teaching young people about their right to reject unwanted touching (of any kind), and to respect other's similar right not to be touched, is something Miller addresses in her brief afterword, in which she hopes her book can be used to further this goal. Can she find a way to return to society, but maintain her personal boundaries.?Īn engaging story is joined to cute, appealing artwork in Don't Touch My Hair!, which offers a creative, fairy-tale take on a common childhood problem: respecting personal, bodily boundaries. Attempting to escape the hordes of people (and creatures!) intent on touching what they shouldn't, she ends up on a desert island. The problem is, everyone else loves it too, and is forever touching it. Aria loves her soft and bouncy hair, which grows toward the sun like a flower. Sharee Miller, the talented author/illustrator behind the recent Princess Hair, returns to the topic of tresses in this new picture-book.

Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller