Uncle Jed's Barbershop - Softcover

Mitchell, Margaree King

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0395732468 ISBN 13: 9780395732465

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin School, 1995

Synopsis

Includes the story of Sarah Jean's Uncle Jed, the only black barber in the county who pursues his dream of opening his own barbershop, as well as facts about hairstyle history, children's dreams of starting their own businesses, and a poet's view of dreamers.Includes the story of Sarah Jean's Uncle Jed, who pursues his dream of opening a barbershop, as well as facts about hairstyles, children's dreams of starting their own businesses, and a poet's view of dreamers

About this title

About the Author:

James E. Ransome’s highly acclaimed illustrations for Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me won the 2014 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. His other award-winning titles include Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed’s Barbershop by Margaree King Mitchell; Deborah Hopkinson’s Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award; and My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle’s Journey to Alvin Ailey and Satchel Paige, both written by his wife, Lesa Cline-Ransome. Mr. Ransome teaches illustration at Pratt Institute and lives in upstate New York with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 3-Uncle Jed, a black, itinerant barber in the pre-Depression South, dreams of opening his own shop. He saves for years, but first his niece, who narrates the story, needs an operation, and then the bank in which his money is kept fails. The man's spirit never flags, however, and he finally starts his own business at age 79. Sarah Jean, whose life was saved by her uncle's generosity, is by this time a middle-aged adult, and shares in his pleasure. Mitchell's text is eloquent in its simplicity. Straightforward, declarative sentences explain such concepts as segregation and sharecropping without emotional overtones, while her subdued prose makes readers keenly aware of the injustice of segregation. Through Sarah Jean's eyes, readers see both the poverty and discrimination endured and the sense of community and caring shared by her family and friends. Ransome's richly textured oil paintings, uncluttered and direct, beautifully complement the text. These are strong characters captured with forceful brush strokes, yet the illustrations also include such details as a crocheted saddle blanket. Both touching and inspirational, this book is ideal for story hours featuring favorite relatives, and it could start children saving for their own dreams.
Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin School
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0395732468
• ISBN 13: 9780395732465
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 38
• Illustrator: Ransome James