Page 1Once upon a time, in a 1975 gray Ford car, lived Z'Rica Chanell. She was a 10-year-old African American girl with dark skin, big brown eyes and two afro puff ponytails tied with cotton candy looking ribbons. Z'Rica lived with her mom, little sister, and baby sister. They didn't have a home, so the car was their house. The back seat was Z'Rica's bedroom, and she kept her few belongings in a suitcase. At night, she'd sleep under a blanket, dreaming of a different life.

Illustration: Z'Rica and her family in their car. Z'Rica is in the backseat, surrounded by her few belongings.

Page 2Every day, Z'Rica would go to the library after school. She loved to read and learn new things. The library smelled like old books and felt quiet and peaceful. Z'Rica would get lost in the stories, imagining a different life for herself. She'd read about kids with big houses and loving families, wondering what that would be like.

Illustration: Z'Rica walking to the library, carrying her backpack and looking down at a book.

Page 3One day, while she was walking to the library, she found a old book and a wooden comb on the ground near the library. The comb was special - it had African patterns carved into it. She picked them up, feeling a strange connection to the comb. She decided to take them home, wondering where they came from. Maybe they belonged to someone important.

Illustration: Z'Rica finding the book and comb on the ground. She's bending down, picking them up.

Page 4That night, while she was reading the book, the wooden comb started talking to her hair! "Z'Rica, you have a special mission," it said in a low, rumbling voice. Z'Rica was surprised, but also excited. Her hair started talking back to the comb! "What mission?" it asked, looking at the comb.

Illustration: The comb talking to Z'Rica's hair. Z'Rica is sitting on her car bed, looking shocked but excited.


Treasure Princess

Z'Rica Chanell sitting in the back seat of a 1975 gray Ford car, looking out the window with a thoughtful expression

Once upon a time, in a 1975 gray Ford car, lived Z'Rica Chanell. She was a 10-year-old girl who shared the car with her mom, little sister, and baby sister. They didn't have a home, so the car was their house. The back seat was Z'Rica's bedroom, and she kept her few belongings in a suitcase. At night, she'd sleep under a blanket, dreaming of a different life.

The Car Home

Z'Rica Chanell sitting at a library table, surrounded by books with a look of wonder on her face

Every day, Z'Rica would go to the library after school. She loved to read and learn new things. The library smelled like old books and felt quiet and peaceful. Z'Rica would get lost in the stories, imagining a different life for herself. She'd read about kids with big houses and loving families, wondering what that would be like.

The Library Escape

Z'Rica Chanell holding an old book and a wooden comb with African patterns, standing on a sidewalk

One day, while she was walking to the library, she found an old book and a wooden comb on the ground near the library. The comb was special - it had African patterns carved into it. She picked them up, feeling a strange connection to the comb. She decided to take them home, wondering where they came from. Maybe they belonged to someone important.

The Mysterious Find

Z'Rica Chanell sitting in the car at night, surprised as the wooden comb talks to her hair

That night, while she was reading the book, the wooden comb started talking to her hair! "Z'Rica, you have a special mission," it said in a low, rumbling voice. Z'Rica was surprised, but also excited. Her hair started talking back to the comb! "What mission?" it asked, looking at the comb.