Penny and the Magic Puffballs: The adventures of Penny and the Magic Puffballs. Paperback – Picture Book, November 28, 2013

It's kind of a silly book (it's about a girl's puffball pony tails and how they are "magical") but my girls love it. Any girl with really curly hair knows she is not going to be able to style her hair like girls with straighter hair. I want my girls to know their hair is just as wonderful, even if they can't do the same things as other girls. This book goes about instilling that into the reader in a silly, fun way. Penny wanted to style her hair like her friends and her mom has to explain she can't. BUT she did a special hair style... puffball pony tails. The day that ensues is magical for Penny. It's cute. I was surprised at how much my girls liked it.

My seven year old daughter LOVED this book! The reading level was perfect for her. Similar to the main character, my daughter has thick natural hair and usually wears it in twists. She has asked to wear her hair down, and was disappointed when I explained that our hair cannot do that naturally. I have been telling her that her hair is different and special, but it seemed to hit home with her when we read this book. The book is extremely relate-able to school aged children. The magic puffballs help Penny to solve everyday problems. Spoiler alert! From jump roping to, spelling tests, to having a favorite pencil, my daughter related to it all. At the end of the book, there are pictures of young girls with Afro puffs. My daughter was so excited! She smiled and proudly said, my hair can do that! We cannot wait to buy the next book! Write like the wind Alonda Williams!

This was a great story that really meant so much to be able to read to my little curly-haired girls. I love their puffballs! The bigger, the better. But many of their friends at school have long straight hair. They are sometimes teased for having "big" or "fluffy" hair. So they want to straighten it, or pull it back and hide their pretty curls in buns or braids. They do not embrace their hair, which is such a painful thing to see. I found this book and couldn't wait to read it to them. We read it together as soon as it arrived. My 9 year old smiled through the entire story! They loved looking through the pictures of little girls with puffs in their hair on the last page. I look forward to sharing more of Penny's adventures with them in the future.

This book takes me back to my childhood. I too felt my hair was different and unacceptable with children I went to school with. My hair didn't swing freely and it wasn't straight like some of my classmates. I didn't feel pretty and I didn't think anyone would like me.Penny brings back a lot of memories of yesterday and what I see today in African American women's hair styles of hair extensions, weaves, wigs and perms. Natural is good and pretty too. I wish this book could be taught in pre-schools and kindergarten classes that people and cultures are different and we should embrace our heritage and be proud of being who we are. Comfortable in our own skin. Thank you to the author Alonda Williams for giving us her experience with her daughter and I hope there will be many more Penny adventures to come in the near future.

This book goes beyond the difference in hair texture. Since this is now my daughter's favorite book to read she asked that I read it to her Pre-K class during Dr. Suess week :) Every kid in the class of all races; boys and girls, wanted MAGIC puffballs because they were excited to imagine what may happen to them if they had Penny's magic. Not to mention the underlying moral of the story could be applied to any challenges where you are trying to get a child to understand that different is not bad and we all have special things about us that may be different from others. I would love for this to be turned into a series!

Alonda and her illustrator do a wonderful job explaining a situation that's very common for Black little girls: hair confidence. I love how Penny's mother gives her "magical" puffs that empower and excite Penny. I also love how positive the book is. And thank GOD the author made a Black girl a main character. I have two African American girls, and I'm so tired of Black girls being side-kicks in books, movies, and t.v. shows (as well as being stereotyped as sassy, street-smart (but not book-smart), and superficial). Penny is smart, kind, and confident. I highly recommend this book!

Love this read. My girls loved that the book very fun and made them appreciate their hair. What a blessing.

I loved it! I have two great-granddaughters. The youngest will celebrate her fifth birthday, next month. The other has already celebrated her sixth birthday. Both will receive their books, on the birthday, of the youngest. Faye, who is the youngest, will receive her copy, beautifully wrapped and it will be one of her birthday gifts. Anaiya, who is the older, of the two, will receive hers, as an "unbirthday gift" and it will be wrapped in newspaper and tied with yarn. It is a tradition with me, to give gifts, to all of my grandchildren, no matter whose birthday we're celebrating. The birthday child receives gifts beautifully wrapped, with ribbons and bows and those who are not celebrating birthdays, receive gifts wrapped in newspaper, crinkled grocery bags, and tied with either cord string, or yarn. All are happy, no matter whose birthday we're celebrating.