"In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!" The youngest member of an African American family describes how each person prepares their hair for bedtime. Her brother "twists and tightens" his locs before donning a durag; Sis combs her hair into a swirl atop her head before adding a wrap; Grandma puts in rollers; Mommy wraps her curls with a scarf; and Daddy wears a wave cap. Only Grandpa has no evening ritual for his bald head. After the narrator's own hair is braided into a crown, the bedtime routine is interrupted as she searches for her missing bonnet, revisiting each family member to ask if they've seen it. Her quest ends with Grandpa, who hides behind his newspaper with the bonnet perched playfully on his head, to the amusement of all. Next morning, the process is reversed as each person tends to their daytime hair-even Grandpa shaves his scalp. Brightly hued, stylized illustrations reminiscent of animated film celebrate a loving family engaged in their rituals of hair care. (Ages 3-6)

This joyous and loving celebration of family is the first-ever picture book to highlight Black nighttime hair traditions--and is perfect for every little girl who knows what it's like to lose her bonnet just before bedtime.

In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!
My brother slips a durag over his locs.
Sis swirls her hair in a wrap around her head.
Daddy covers his black waves with a cap.
Mama gathers her corkscrew curls in a scarf.
I always wear a bonnet over my braids, but tonight I can't find it anywhere!

Bedtime Bonnet gives readers a heartwarming peek into quintessential Black nighttime hair traditions and celebrates the love between all the members of this close-knit, multi-generational family.

Perfect for readers of Hair Love and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut!