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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

by Derrick Barnes Publisher: AGATE BOLDEN

A barbershop ritual, a crown of confidence

Regular price $18.10 USD
Regular price $30.17 USD Sale price $18.10 USD
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Awards & Recognition

  • Award recognition

    Winner of the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers

    The metadata identifies the book as the winner of the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers.

  • Editorial selection

    Named one of The Huffington Post's best books of 2017

    Named by the metadata among the best books of 2017 selected by The Huffington Post.

AlbakiReads Editorial

A barbershop ritual, a crown of confidence

In Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, the barber’s chair becomes a place where a new haircut changes how boys see themselves. The book connects the details of the barbershop ritual—from the cape to the finished line—to confidence, self-acceptance, and the feeling of being noticed. Its celebration centers Black boys and the worth they recognize in their own reflections. Presented as a rhythmic read-aloud, the book gives a familiar experience symbolic weight: the fresh cut becomes a figurative crown.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 4–8 interested in barbershops, haircuts, and everyday rituals.
  • Families and educators seeking a read-aloud centered on Black boys’ self-esteem and self-acceptance.

Themes

Self-esteem and self-acceptanceBlack boyhoodBarbershop culture and personal presentation

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Winner of the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers
A Newbery Honor Book
A Caldecott Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
An Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Book
An Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor Book
A Society of Illustrators Gold Medal Book

Named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR, the Huffington Post, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, the Horn Book Magazine, the News & Observer, BookPage, Chicago Public Library, and more




The barbershop is where the magic happens. Boys go in as lumps of clay and, with princely robes draped around their shoulders, a dab of cool shaving cream on their foreheads, and a slow, steady cut, they become royalty. That crisp yet subtle line makes boys sharper, more visible, more aware of every great thing that could happen to them when they look good: lesser grades turn into As; girls take notice; even a mother's hug gets a little tighter. Everyone notices.



A fresh cut makes boys fly.



This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber's chair--a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. The fresh cuts. That's where it all begins.



Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.

 

Educational resources for Crown can be found here.


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Customer reviews

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AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.