  | Crown : an ode to the fresh cut Author: Barnes, Derrick D. | |
| Price: $23.76 | ||
Summary:
Celebrates the magnificent feeling that comes from walking out of a barber shop with newly-cut hair.
| Illustrator: | James, Gordon C. |
Video Preview:
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.80 Points: .5 Quiz: 194442 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 4.30 Points: 3.0 Quiz: 73001 | |
Awards:
Coretta Scott King Illustrated Honor, 2018
Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2018
Newbery Honor, 2018
Caldecott Honor, 2018
Reviews:
School Library Journal (+) (00/09/17)
Booklist (09/01/17)
The Hornbook (+) (00/11/17)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/01/2017 Barnes (Ruby and the Booker Boys, 2008) playfully tells the story of a black boy getting a haircut at a barbershop. The boy comes in as a “blank canvas,” but as the haircut starts, Barnes leads the reader into all the things that might happen because of the cut, from passing a geography test, to becoming a star, and even impressing a girl. The other men in the barbershop look important and full of swagger because of their hair, and the barber knows what he’s doing and doles out shape-ups and a faux hawk with skill. Colorful images illustrate all of the patrons, including a woman. Barnes mixes fresh and sharp lines with an integral part of the African American experience: maintaining one’s hair. Illustrator James deftly uses bright colors including teal and fuchsia, and a colorful galaxy complements Barnes’ words well. The strong voice will resonate with readers, soothe any young child scared of their first cut, and give a boost of confidence to the seasoned pros. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 09/01/2017 K-Gr 3—Rhythmic text describes the feeling of a young African American boy as he gets a "fresh cut" and how a trip to the barbershop changes the way he feels about the world and in turn how the world perceives him. He might just "smash that geography exam" or "rearrange the principal's honor roll" and, of course, the cute girl in class won't be able to keep her eyes off of him. The protagonist spends time looking at black men in chairs next to him and creating vivid stories about their lives: "the dude to the left of you with a faux-hawk…looks presidential…maybe he's the CEO of a tech company." Oil paintings illustrate the intricacies of the haircuts, details in the characters' faces, along with the sense of well-being that is conveyed along the way. While a trip the barbershop is the main story line, the themes of confidence-building, self-esteem, and joy of young black boys are the important takeaways, and the illustrations jump off the page and invite readers to share in the experience. VERDICT A super fun read-aloud, this title is a recommended purchase for all picture book collections.—Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
