Acacia
A Rapunzel Tale
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Acacia: A Rapunzel Tale
Written by JaNay Brown-Wood
Illustrated by John Joven
Charlesbridge
ISBN-10 : 1623543681
ISBN-13 : 978-1623543686
In this clever, contemporary Black twist on “Rapunzel,” Acacia makes a new friend and uses her hair—and wits—to escape.
A celebration of Black identity, empowering young girls to embrace and love themselves. A perfect storytime read for kids ages 4 to 7 years old.
Acacia has been locked away by Ma Gothel, left to wonder about the world beyond her tower walls. She spends her days reading stories about the outside until one day, Mahogany from Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale happens to find her tower. When Mahogany sees Acacia let down her long, twisted hair for Ma Gothel to climb, she returns to befriend the lonely girl.
Eventually the girls realize they can untwist Acacia’s hair in a way that will make it impossible to let the locks down for Ma Gothel. An escape plan from the tower unfolds, because friendship—and a dream to see the world—are powerful.
Ultimately Acacia’s Black hair is personal expression and her own super power.
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Praise for Acacia
“Meet Acacia, a little girl who not only enjoys reading fairy tales but also finds herself living inside one. Locked away in a very high tower by Ma Gothel, Acacia lives a life of relative solitude, desperate to see the outside world. When Ma Gothel takes away Acacia’s precious stories, she begins to spin a tale of her own, ultimately drawing the attention of Mahogany, a girl in a red cape who happens to be passing by. A friendship quickly builds between the two girls, and together, they may have just what they need to free Acacia from her tower prison. It is important for all children to be represented in stories, and this fairytale retelling allows little girls of color to see themselves portrayed as capable heroines. The illustrations pair well with the text, and the vibrant colors match the spirited demeanor of the title character. A book such as this may inspire young readers to adapt favorite stories to feature themselves in their own retellings, as well. This is a good read aloud selection for early elementary grade classrooms.” —Children’s Literature, CLCD