ALA Booklist (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Told in rhyming verse, A Boy and His Mirror follows Chris, a child who is coming to terms with loving his long, curly hair despite the comments and criticisms of his classmates. When Chris approaches his mirror about the ridiculing at school, a woman appears within and helps increase his confidence. But when all of the compliments go to Chris' head, he must seek out the magic mirror's help once more, learning that the way to gain his peers' respect is to be kind, speak up, and treat others as you'd like to be treated d that whatever makes you you is truly special and worth protecting. In Davis' story of celebrating our differences, being open-minded, and taking pride in what makes each of us unique, Bobo's (I Am Enough, 2018) vivid and lively illustrations feature a gorgeous palette of blended and complementary shades and a spectrum of skin tones and hair textures. A love letter to natural hair and being proud of our cultures and family.

Kirkus Reviews

A young Black boy with long, curly hair struggles to feel accepted.Chris loves his hair even if other kids consider it "girly." At school, some laugh and stare. Mom tries to make Chris feel better with a pep talk. When he looks in the mirror, something strange happens. A beautiful Black woman comes out of the mirror, dressed like royalty. She tells Chris that "in a faraway land, child, / you'd look like a king" and that he should embrace his hair. He returns to the mystical mirror when his kinglike behavior is lost on his peers. His enchanted mirror guides him on the behaviors of a true king, sending him on his way to lead his peers to change and show them that there is room for everyone. Bright, evocative acrylic illustrations bring Chris and his diverse group of peers to life as he learns to love and accept himself. The author conveys this empowering message through an omniscient narrator and rhyming couplets. The highly textured illustrations work in conjunction with the lyrical text across the double-page spreads, moving the story along at a steady pace. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A rousing display of pride and self-love and a reminder of the importance of kindness. (Picture book. 3-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Inclusivity begins with self-assurance and connection, suggest Davis and Bobo in this expressive rhyming ballad centering a Black child with long curls. Chris likes his hair, but when kids start to tease, he’s not sure how to respond. At home, a regal Black woman emerges from a mirror with advice: “In a faraway land, child,/ you’d look like a king./ They’d love you just as you are—/ tell you, ‘Don’t change a thing.’ ” At first he interprets the message literally, “showing bling, acting cool” after arriving at school in a crown. Following more schoolyard cruelty, he tries again, urging the group to “stop judging, quit calling names.” Everyone readily agrees, and final scenes present youth of varied skin tones beaming as they energetically race around the playground. Realistic acrylic and digital artwork incorporates geometric patterns while foregrounding the protagonist’s emotions as they grow toward confidence. Ages 3–7. (Jan.)

School Library Journal (Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2023)

PreS-Gr 3 —Chris, a Black boy with long curly hair, is having a hard time at school. He does not understand the reason kids tease him about his hair. At home and distressed, Chris stands in front of a golden mirror; a woman appears from within it and advises him to show kids his great big heart. This picture book debut helps readers reconcile who they are with how others perceive them, suggesting that by being accepting and kind with a positive and appropriate self-loving attitude, the same can be brokered in others. The medium-sized rhyming text, in third-person narrative style, provides vocabulary words that early elementary children will know; the illustrations, created with acrylic on board and digitally, are in a soft palette of primary and secondary colors accompanying the home and school settings and the multiracial characters in this story. The art carries the emotions of the main and secondary characters with facial and body gestures that will connect with young readers. This book could be used in a third grade social studies unit covering self-identity. VERDICT A forthright picture book that helps caregivers and teachers talk about identity with young readers.—Kathia Ibacache