A Single Dreadlock
Will be published approx. on 16. October 2025
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-1-77306-938-8 (ISBN)
Description
When Lovie moves from Jamaica to Newfoundland, his classmates make fun of his single dreadlock. But with Grandma's help, Lovie learns to care for his hair - and himself.
Lovie never thought he looked different until he and his dads moved to Spruce Cove. Back in Jamaica, Grandma would tend Lovie's curls with her special hair-taming grease, but no one in Spruce Cove can manage his hair. Over the summer, it dreads in just one spot, and Lovie is quite happy about his single dreadlock...until the kids at school make fun of him.
When Grandma arrives for Chanukah, she sees that Lovie is upset. She explains that dreading is what their hair type does in its natural state, and she encourages him to love the way his hair grows. So Lovie goes from wanting to hide away his dreadlock, to asking his grandma if she will make his whole head full of dreads! Grandma takes out her hair grease and gets to work, and the next day Lovie proudly walks into class with his dreadlocks, and newfound confidence.
Xaiver Campbell's heartfelt story about finding the courage to be yourself and expressing your difference is beautifully complemented by the vibrant art of celebrated illustrator Eugenie Fernandes.
Key Text Features
dialogue
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
Lovie never thought he looked different until he and his dads moved to Spruce Cove. Back in Jamaica, Grandma would tend Lovie's curls with her special hair-taming grease, but no one in Spruce Cove can manage his hair. Over the summer, it dreads in just one spot, and Lovie is quite happy about his single dreadlock...until the kids at school make fun of him.
When Grandma arrives for Chanukah, she sees that Lovie is upset. She explains that dreading is what their hair type does in its natural state, and she encourages him to love the way his hair grows. So Lovie goes from wanting to hide away his dreadlock, to asking his grandma if she will make his whole head full of dreads! Grandma takes out her hair grease and gets to work, and the next day Lovie proudly walks into class with his dreadlocks, and newfound confidence.
Xaiver Campbell's heartfelt story about finding the courage to be yourself and expressing your difference is beautifully complemented by the vibrant art of celebrated illustrator Eugenie Fernandes.
Key Text Features
dialogue
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
Reviews / Votes
"A celebration of diversity, individuality, and self-acceptance. [A] lovely, affirming title." - Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEWMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Ontario
Canada
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to First Grade, Interest Age: From 3 to 6 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
Full color throughout
Dimensions
Height: 260 mm
Width: 222 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight
324 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77306-938-8 (9781773069388)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
XAIVER MICHAEL CAMPBELL, from Kingston, Jamaica, has lived in St. John's, Newfoundland, for over a decade. His work has appeared in the Malahat Review, Riddle Fence and in the anthologies Us, Now and Best Canadian Stories 2024. He was nominated twice for the Journey Prize and named a Writers' Trust Rising Star. Xaiver co-authored Black Harbour: Slavery and the Forgotten Histories of Black People in Newfoundland and Labrador with Heather Barrett. A Single Dreadlock is Xaiver's debut picture book.
EUGENIE FERNANDES grew up painting with her father, a comic-book illustrator, and has become a celebrated artist in her own right, illustrating more than one hundred books and writing and illustrating twenty-five, including When Rabbit Was a Lion. Her illustrations for Earth Magic by Dionne Brand were nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award, and paintings from two of her books are in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Eugenie lives in Ontario.
EUGENIE FERNANDES grew up painting with her father, a comic-book illustrator, and has become a celebrated artist in her own right, illustrating more than one hundred books and writing and illustrating twenty-five, including When Rabbit Was a Lion. Her illustrations for Earth Magic by Dionne Brand were nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award, and paintings from two of her books are in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Eugenie lives in Ontario.