Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship (Hardcover)

Authors: Irene Latham and Charles Waters

Illustrators: Sean Qualls and Selina Alko

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (2018)

Ages 8-12

How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don't know each other . . . and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko (of The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage), this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.