Uncle Jed's Barbershop

I really love this book. It’s a good introduction to the black American experience at a children’s level. The themes of family bonds, working and persevering to reach one’s dream and the importance of community are wonderful. The book is told from the perspective of a young girl named Sarah Jean. She describes her favorite relative and his dream of opening his own barbershop. Until then, he goes to his customers’ homes cutting hair and is the only black barber in the county. She says most people didn’t believe he would really do it, but he continues to work toward his dream despite the setbacks he faces. Though Uncle Jed is ambitious, he is community oriented and in hard times he accepts whatever compensation people can give. He finally achieves his dream and opens his barbershop before he dies. The illustration for this page is my favorite of the book, showing a crowd of beaming customers applauding as he gives the first shape up in his own shop. The book briefly introduces sharecropping, segregation, and the Great Depression in ways that children will understand. The definition given for each is simple and a good beginning point for kids. Segregation is mentioned specifically when Sarah Jean has to go to the hospital, described in part with “There were separate public rest rooms, separate water fountains, separate schools. It was called segregation. So in the hospital, we had to go to the colored waiting room.” It’s an excellent book to use when introducing the history to children while also supporting the following of one’s dreams. Black history isn’t covered enough in education and this is one of the books I will be using to supplement that deficit. The illustrations are nice, soft and fill both pages. This is such a relatable and beautiful story.

This is a great book. Classic. It also has been used by me for inspirational talks and as an introduction to workshops on gratitude and generosity. I have even sent it abroad to some of my English speaking friends who live and work in poor African cultures. It gives individuals a chance to practice their English reading skills. It has also been helpful as well as a tool to work at counteracting the myth that everyone in America is rich and focused totally on materialism ( an attitude that I have encountered on several occasions during my mission trips to more places than I want to mention ) I have used it also as a socialization tool when I read stories to both children as well as mixed age groups - an opener for discussion. I have found that even people with whom I interact on dementia or memory loss units-in nursing homes enjoy the pictures and can recall events in their own lives about haircuts and support from others when illness strikes. It also beautifully exemplifies the idea That poverty does not define your value as a human being.

This is one of my six year old's favorite books. Beautiful illustrations and a beautiful storyline. It also provided a wealth of opportunities to talk about important real-life subjects with kids - both historical and modern day - including the Great Depression and segregation.

Don't you want your dream to come true? In the fiction story "Uncle Jed's Barbershop," by Margaree King Mitchell, we learn how an old man's dream came true.One day there was a guy named Uncle Jedediah who was Sarah's favorite relative and who was her dad's brother. Uncle Jed wants a barbershop, but he does not have the money to get the barbershop. He keeps on trying, but he keeps on using the money for other things. Will he be able to have the money to get the barbershop?The author wrote this book to show us dreams can come true. My favorite thing about the book was when Uncle Jed was talking about the barbershop.I would recommend this book to others because in other stories that person's dream might come true. I like this book because other people were helping Uncle Jed out.You should read this book because it is a very sad book because Sarah could have died and I thought she would die.By: Delvina

We use this book for our economy unit. It goes through the good and the bad of entrepreneurship with a real world experience. It also shows diversity as a black man can have his own business through lots of work and dedication

Great story, beautiful illustrations and a fun read aloud. Perfection

I am a substitute teacher in a primary school. I was subbing in the library and this book was part of the lesson for that day on "perseverance." I loved it so much I had to buy it for my personal library. I highly recommend this for adults as well as children. If you are trying to reach a goal and have a difficult time attaining it, this book is for you. If you are doing what you set out to do read it anyhow. It will inspire you to keep going forward!!

Nice children's book.