Neecy and Nay Nay and the Tangled, Hairy Mess

Gr 2-4–A hair conundrum sparks a business opportunity. One morning, twins Neecy and Nay Nay wake up to Nay Nay in a sticky situation: chewing gum in her hair. Despite the unfortunate event, the twins are inspired to start their own salon: Neecy and Nay Nay’s House of Style. They are fortunate enough to have a group of willing customers to start off with in friends and family. However, when they encounter the hiccups of running a business, they learn a few things, with charm and laughter along the way. This book’s vocabulary is at a noticeably higher level and will help early elementary readers build language skills, though the inclusion of more advanced terms is not the smoothest. The grayscale artwork is expressive and enjoyable, adding basic imagery to what happens on each page without detracting from readers’ imaginations. This title serves as a valuable introduction to books with fewer or no pictures. Although race is not explicitly discussed, the illustrations suggest most of the characters are Black. Back matter includes a snickerdoodle recipe, glossary, and preview of the next series installment.