Wormhead

A featured selection at the Cannes Shorts Corner in 2006, Manauvaskar Kublall's iconographic-animated Wormhead is based on the story by late author Carolyn McKeown (the production is truly a family effort: McKeown's producer husband Rich composed the music, his mother contributed the artwork, and his aunt Zoelle Montgomery narrates). On second-grader Jessie Brown's first day of the new school year at Harriet Tubman Elementary, she is drawn to friendly new girl Nia Barnes, who has cool-looking dreadlocked hair. But Jessie's best buddies Terry and Anne give Nia the cold shoulder, slamming her with the titular slur. With the help of a little sound advice from her parents, Jessie learns to stick to her principles, while Nia—despite the teasing—continues to wear her hairstyle with pride, ultimately standing up for herself while maintaining her dignity. Concluding with a brief segment on the history of dreadlocks (worn by both King Tut and Sampson), Wormhead is recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)