Wonderful Hair: The Beauty of Annie Malone
By Eve Nadel Catarevas
Published by Creston Books
Largely forgotten today, Annie Turnbo Malone was an influential Black business leader in the early 20th century.
Entrepreneur, inventor and philanthropist Annie Turnbo Malone turned her personally developed hair care products into a successful industry, including 32 beauty colleges that taught the unique Poro method. One of her students was the much more famous Madam C.J. Walker. Annie Turnbo Malone was a bold, inspiring pioneer who deserves to be better known.
Book-signing at Elm Street Books
New Canaan, CT
Honors:
CA Reading Association Eureka Silver Award
Reviews:
"This lovely picture book biography covers this story with beautiful representations of Black women to help readers fully understand the journey of this entrepreneur and her message. VERDICT: Gorgeous paintings of industry and determination, set to a story of a practical young woman who wanted people to feel good about themselves and was a pioneer of natural Black hair care products, this is a good choice for the elementary biography section."
– Starred Review, School Library Journal
"Catarevas weaves a lifetime of events — Malone's early years, her evolution to business owner, and the development of a successful business strategy during a time when career options for Black women were limited — into a well-paced, engrossing narrative that will have readers rooting for Annie. A rousing blueprint for economic self-determination and success."
- Kirkus
"... this picture book biography … is a truly extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, kindergarten, and community library and Women Biographies and Multicultural Biographies collections for children ages 2 - 5."
- Midwest Book Review