Briana Mukodiri Uchendu, recent recipient of the John Steptoe New Talent Award, is an illustrator, visual development artist, and first-generation Nigerian American. She is the illustrator of multiple picture books including The Talk by Alicia D. Williams, which received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. Her work is inspired by her interests in folklore, film, and animation and her passion to highlight voices that usually go unheard.

"This picture book opens with a wordless double-page spread set in a salon where a girl flips through a book of hairstyles while getting her hair done. The girl narrates: "MY HAIR IS HISTORY. Woven into patterns from thousands of years ago. Centuries of meaning are braided on my head." Martins's main text goes on to enumerate other positive attributes: "My hair is art," "...identity," "...roots," etc. Close readers may notice a subtle acrostic spread out amidst the poetic text. Accompanying the verse-like narrative, paragraphs in smaller print provide information, poignantly showing longstanding connections between contemporary popular Black hairstyles and styles that began in Africa, as well as related African customs. [...] Uchendu's gauzy digital art primarily features soft lines and pastel colors, which give the book a throwback feel fitting for a text designed to explain how the past shapes the present." --Horn Book Magazine *STARRED* Review "March / April 2026"

The rich African history of Black hair is spotlighted in Martins' latest picture book. An acrostic poem spelling "hairstory" spotlights the beauty of Black hair and is interspersed with lengthier text highlighting the historical roots of Black hairstyles in Africa. Various African tribes and cultures are represented in stunning, softly textured illustrations that show the process of people styling their hair, just as the girl is continuing that tradition now. The illustrations create an otherworldly feel as readers are transported through history, lore, and the power of Black cultural experiences. After a glorious journey through Black hair history, the young girl is shown proudly looking through the mirror at her own unique hairstory. [...] African culture and history, vibrant illustrations, and the magic of Black hair combine for a beautifully styled tale readers will read again and again.--Booklist *STARRED* Review "December 2025"

"Martins and Mukodiri Uchendu explore the cultural significance of hair across African hairstyling traditions. [...] An insightful, visually stunning exploration of African hair: 'each strand, a history. In every style, a story.' "--Publishers Weekly "11/17/2025"