The Picture Book Buzz - Interview w/Jaylene Clark Owens and Review of A Black Girl and Her Braids
- Jan 15
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 20
Jaylene Clark Owens is a vibrant and imaginative soul hailing from Harlem, New York, and is currently residing in the Greater Philadelphia region.
She is an AUDELCO and Barrymore Award–winning actress, as well as a highly acclaimed, award-winning spoken word poet. Her acting credits include the stage, film, and television. Her passion for honoring, and advocating for, Black women and their hair has led her to create work celebrating various styles, such as braids, locs, twists, ’fros, and the Black girl switch up!
The poem that sparked this debut, A Black Girl And Her Braids, was born by the overwhelming joy Owens experienced after getting her hair braided at a local Philadelphia salon. Her words deeply resonated with women and girls nationwide, even catching the attention of celebrities who shared the audio to honor their own braids.
Jaylene’s debut picture book, A Black Girl and Her Braids, was released January 6th.
Welcome Jaylene,
Tell us a little about yourselves. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing and creating poetry?)
I enjoy writing when I am at home in my office. I write whenever I am inspired to do so, but my preference is to write first thing in the morning. The earliest poem I remember writing is in fifth grade for a homework assignment. I have been creating spoken word style poetry since eighth grade. I began my career as a poet in 2005.
It is wonderful to "meet" you, Jaylene. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written a manuscript?
I don’t have many manuscripts, but all of them were written at home! I haven’t written any in fun or unusual places, yet. I have written spoken word poems on the train and on the beach.
I think writing poems on the beach sounds amazing! What was your inspiration or spark of interest for A Black Girl and Her Braids?
A Black Girl and Her Braids is an adaptation of my viral poem of the same name. I wrote the original poem in 2021 after getting medium knotless braids from Baly African Hair Braiding in Philadelphia. I got my “vacation braids” before heading to Los Angeles to visit one of my best friends, Hollis. While frolicking around Rodeo Drive, taking pictures, I started thinking about how I felt so good with my braids. I really loved the style and felt so beautiful with my new braids. I decided that I wanted to write a poem capturing this very special feeling of being a Black girl and having braids. At one point while hanging at Hollis’ house, the initial lines of the poem came to me as a song. “A Black girl and her braids/ A Black girl and her braids/ Can’t tell her nothin’/ Please don’t touch it/ You know she looks amaz’” I recorded this in my voice notes app and said I would write the full poem when I returned home.
I knew I wanted to include information about The CROWN Act because I often infuse my spoken word poetry with social justice themes. I wrote the poem and subsequently released it as a poetry visual on social media. It began to go viral! Thousands of Black women began uploading videos using my poem, including notable celebrities and brands, such as Tia Mowry, Kandi Burruss, and Tracee Ellis Ross. When I saw thousands of little Black girls dancing to my poem, and celebrating their braids, I decided to adapt the poem into a children’s book. I had previously pitched a different book idea that I wanted to publish, and while I didn’t find representation for that story, I did get signed with A Black Girl and Her Braids! I was also motivated to create this book because I wanted to create something for my goddaughter, Amani, and her sister, Amelia. The book is dedicated to them, and I am so happy that I get to create art that speaks to them and their age group.
That must have been such an amazing feeling to see your poem (and now your book) strike a chord with so many women and girls! What is the hardest or most challenging thing about writing A Black Girl and Her Braids? And what was the most fun?
I feel blessed to say that writing A Black Girl and Her Braids didn’t feel like a challenge. Having the original poem already written allowed me to use that as a framework for the manuscript.
One thing that I had to consider was how I would adapt the words now that I was writing for children. The original poem leans into AAVE (African American Vernacular English) at various times, which is beautiful because it is authentic to the way I speak at times, and I know many Black people can relate to this manner of speaking. However, I didn’t know how much of that I should put into the book. I wanted the poem to have my authentic voice, while also being mindful of the fact that young readers are just learning about grammar and sentence structure. Thankfully, my team at Penguin advised me through this and the finished product is a manuscript that is balanced and authentically reflects my voice, and the voice of so many in my culture.
I had the most fun deciding what braided styles I would include in the manuscript because I knew those were the ones that would be represented in the illustrations. Brittney did such an incredible job bringing the many styles to life!
I am glad you and your editors were able to find a 'happy medium' that allowed your poetic and cultural authenticity to shine through! How many revisions did the illustrations take from first draft to publication for A Black Girl and Her Braids?
We went through about six revisions from the first draft to publication.
That's not too bad. Did anything amaze or surprise you when you first saw Brittney Bond’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
I was amazed by how well she took my vision for each spread and brought it to life! For many of the spreads, I had very specific images that I wanted to see, however, some spreads were more of a concept and Brittney added more than I could imagine. She has such a great eye for capturing beauty on the page.
Text © Jaylene Clark Owens & Image © Brittney Bond, 2026
One of my favorite spreads is the one that says, “Or no—/Braids swinging free is a look, too, honey—/Whether they stop at her shoulders, back, or go down to her tummy.” I said I wanted her to depict three girls with various braided styles, and I wanted them to have different hair accessories like beads, barrettes, and clips. The finished result features the girls in three Polaroid pictures, with the pictures surrounded by various hair accessories! It’s so cool and I never would have even thought of that!
I really like Brittney's use of collage, mixing the photos and accessories. What's something you want your readers to know about A Black Girl and Her Braids?
I want readers to know that while this is a picture book specifically celebrating Black girls, their hair, and Black girlhood, it is still a wonderful book to add to any child’s collection, regardless of race. It educates the reader on braids and how they are not only a style, but they are rooted in culture and history. It also addresses racial hair discrimination and provides an opportunity for adults to have conversations with kids about this very real issue that affects so many. I believe it engenders empathy, understanding, and appreciation.
I think it will open doors for a lot of important discussions between adults and kids (and perhaps between some adults). Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
I’m not able to share any updates on new projects just yet, but when I am, I will be sure to share them with my JCO Newsletter community! People can sign up for this free newsletter on my website! JayleneClarkOwens.com/contact.
I wish you luck with your projects and look forward to seeing what you create next! Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?
© M Marshall
One of my favorite National Parks is the Grand Canyon National Park. I remember taking a boat along the Colorado River as a child and it was one of the most beautiful, serene moments to be floating along the water on a sunny day, surrounded by the mountains.
Thank you, Jaylene, for sharing with us a bit about yourself and your debut picture book.
To find out more about Jaylene Clark Owens, or to contact her:
Website: https://www.jayleneclarkowens.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayleneclarkowens/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/Jaylene_C_Owens
Review of A Black Girl and Her Braids
This beautifully illustrated, poetic picture book celebrates the individuality and culture wrapped into the marvelous styles of black braids and encourages society's appreciation of this crowning glory.
A Black Girl and Her Braids
Author: Jaylene Clark Owens
Illustrator: Brittney Bond
Publisher: Penguin Workshop (January 6, 2026)
Ages: 3-7
Fiction
Themes:
Black hair, braids, self-confidence, celebration of braids, poetry, and empathy.
Synopsis:
Based on the viral poem, braids of all lengths, looks, parts, and styles are explored and cheered on in this vibrant picture book celebrating the versatility of Black hair.
Join author Jaylene Clark Owens as she pens an ode to Black girls and braids, a dynamic duo. This empowering picture book shines a light on what braids mean to Black girls of all ages and shows how Black communities have managed to continuously make space for braids, paying homage to their origins while making fun and futuristic styles, despite rules and regulations attempting to condemn them. Braids of all lengths, colors, and styles are brought to life with detailed illustrations from Brittney Bond, crafting a timeless book which honors creativity, encourages confidence, and calls for Black girls to proudly show off their braids no matter what!
Opening Lines:
A Black girl and her braids
A Black girl and her braids
Can't tell her nothin'
Please don't touch it
You know she looks amaz'
A Black girl and her braids
A Black girl and her braids
Protective style for a while
It's one that always slays
What I LOVED about this book:
This beautiful opening spread, with its vibrant pinks and purples and excited adoration by the girl of her braids, is the perfect foil for Jaylene Clark Owens' poem. I love that the vernacular and voice were retained in the poem and lightly woven throughout the rest of the text.
Text © Jaylene Clark Owens & Image © Brittney Bond, 2026
It's a loving ode and celebration of braids, as powerful and empowering elements of a black girl's personality and culture.
Text © Jaylene Clark Owens & Image © Brittney Bond, 2026
My braids are special, they are part of my crown,
Of my culture, of my neighborhood, of my family background,
And not just that, they protect my hair -
The masterful rhyming text explores the versatility of different styles that can be created with braids, and the illustrations have fun pairing the main character and four friends with hairstyles and various clothing combinations. This joyous celebration of braids sandwiches an honest and age-appropriate criticism of school bans of "braids, twists, big afros, or locs." Exploring a heartfelt plea to remember that different hair and hair styles should be accepted as "unique and special" not labeled and put in a box. These spreads gorgeously explore the harm done to kids through this hair profiling or discrimination. Powerfully engendering empathy and some deep questions.
Text © Jaylene Clark Owens & Image © Brittney Bond, 2026
I don't want to give it away, but the ending is gorgeous, touching, and joyous. It is a wonderfully inspirational book encouraging acceptance and cultural understanding and providing an empowering celebration of a black girl and her braids.
Resources:
pair with Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes and Curls by Ruth Forman.
If you are in the area, be sure to check out Jaylene Clark Owens book tour events:
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