Bintou's Braids
By Sylviane A. Diouf

Bintou's Braids
Children's book review by P.J. Rooks

Ages 4+

Bintou is envious of her older sister's beautiful braids, but when she asks for braids of her own, her grandmother tells her that too much vanity, too early, can be destructive.

"Now, little Bintou," says the grandmother, "when you're older, it's fine to want to look your best and show everybody that you have become a young woman. But you are still just a girl. You will get braids when it is time."

What a fantastic point this is -- and great to see it in print, especially in a kid's format!

Bintou becomes the town hero shortly thereafter when she sees a couple of the locals drowning and runs for help. To celebrate her heroism, her mother asks her what she would like. Well, of course she wants braids. So plans are made for Bintou to have braids installed the next day, but in the meantime, Grandma Soukeye arrives and does up Bintou's hair, not with braids, but with pretty ornamental blue and yellow birds. Bintou is very pleased -- looks like it will be okay to wait a few more years for braids after all.

Bintou's Braids is a wonderful story for any little girl with parents who choose to face down the ongoing battle against today's Bratz and Britney culture. Sex appeal does not have to start at age six and well, just look at Bintou -- everybody's not doing it.

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