Uncle Jeds Barbershop

Rating:
Summary: Uncle Jed's the man
Review: Picture books featuring black characters in history come out every year. Mostly these books are either folktales or deal directly with segregation and/or slavery. "Uncle Jed's Barbershop" is a little different. In it, the characters live in the deeply segregated South of the 1930s. Rather than let this be the focus of the book, however, author Margaree King Mitchell has chosen to simply allow this to be the background to the actual story. I appreciated greatly the fact that Mitchell was such an adept writer that she could teach kids history without making that history the focal point of the text. When you add this fact to "Uncle Jed's" emotion packed storyline, you find you've a book that's not only well written and illustrated but also deeply meaningful.

Sarah Jean lives with her parents on a farm in the South. Her favorite relative, by far, is her granddaddy's brother, Uncle Jedediah. The only black barber for miles around, Uncle Jed travels from home to home giving haircuts. His dream, however, is to someday have a barbershop of his own with sinks, "so shiny they sparkled, the floor so clean you could see yourself". When little Sarah Jean gets sick and needs an operation, however, Uncle Jed readily parts with the $300 required to make her better. A few years later he saves enough money to buy the land and build a building when the Depression hits. Suddenly all his money is gone and he has to start all over again. Finally, at the grand old age of seventy-nine, his dream becomes a reality. People from all over come to him and the now adult Sarah Jean sits in a seat and lets him twirl her around in a chair. Says Sarah Jean at the end, "Uncle Jed died not long after that, and I think he died a happy man". The final shot is of the autumn leaves falling past a window. Inside, Jed sweeps the floor of the shop that he can now call his own.

Much as with his "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" (which this book would pair brilliantly with during a storytime), illustrator James Ransome has done a superb job. To prepare for these pictures, Ransome returned to his hometown in North Carolina, used old photographs of his grandfather's chickens, and included subtle elements that give each scene a sense reality and a flavor of its own. There's a particularly autumnal feeling to this story as well. The book begins with leaves falling and it ends with leaves falling. Using his customary oil paint on paper, even the thickest of Ransome's lines contain enough delicacy to make the pictures seem real. Uncle Jed is a great character in this pages and it's his vibrancy and stoicism that pulls the book together. Mitchell's plot is a good one too. Books with the moral of if-at-first-you-don't-succeed-try-try-again fall into two distinct camps. Either they're schmaltzy goo of the "Little Engine That Could" variety, or they speak to something deep inside of us. "Uncle Jed's" belongs to the latter category. You agonize with Jed when he loses everything in the stock market. And you're just as amazed as everyone else when he wins in the end, however briefly.

I tend to avoid books with lessons because usually the lessons learned are poorly presented. This book, however, has a lesson that I think has been given delightful packaging. With Mitchell's words and Ransome's pictures, you've got yourself a heckuva book. Definitely consider checking it out today.


Rating:
Summary: Uncle Jed Barbershop- - - A Must Read
Review: Sarah Jean is an African-American girl from the South, living during the Great Depression. Every Saturday morning, she looks forward to seeing her favorite family member, Uncle Jed. Each Saturday, he travels from house to house throughout the community, cutting hair. One day, he wants to open his own barbershop. Sarah likes when he pretends to cut her hair by running the clippers over her neck. Sarah becomes really sick and need major surgery that will cost three hundred dollars. When Uncle Jed hears, he gives Sarah's dad the money he has been saving for his barbershop. After saving again, the bank where he has been keeping his money fails. Again, he has to start over saving for his barbershop. During this time, because many customers do not have money he cuts hair for whatever they can give him. On Uncle Jed's seventy-ninth birthday, he opens his new barbershop. People from all over the county come to celebrate the grand opening with him. Not long afterwards, Uncle Jed dies, but he accomplished his dream. The artist, James Ransome uses oil paint, which sets a sad tone of how the South looks during the Great Depression. He won the Coretta Scott King Honor Award for his work.

Rating:
Summary: True dignity and courage
Review: Sarah Jean's great Uncle Jed has a dream of opening up his own
barbershop. Sarah Jean explains to the reader that Great Uncle Jed is the only black barber in their county during segregation. He goes on horseback from house to home cutting Afro-American people's hair. One of Sarah Jean favourite thing is when Uncle Jed pretends to cut her hair. He would place the clippers next to her neck and then put on some great smelling lotion . One day Sarah Jean becomes very ill and the doctors will only operate if they had the three hundred dollars up front. Uncle Jed saves Sarah Jean's life when he gives her family the three hundred dollars he had been saving for his barbershop. Uncle Jed suffer another setback when the Great Depression hits and the bank holding his three thousand dollars fails. He has to start again from nothing in the middle of the Depression. Now Uncle Jed's customers can only paid him in food and clothing. Uncle Jed's dream is finally realized on his seventy ninth birthday. Uncle Jed attains his dream through unruffled courage and dignity. He does not allow racism or injustice get in the way.The realistic illustrations add to this wonderful book. A wonderful picture book for five to nine year old with the quiet message of following your dream no matter how long it takes.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book that should be read to children of any age.
Review: This fabulous book stole my heart. I feel so lucky to have a job that allows me to share my love of books with my wonderful students. I do my elementary counseling through children's literature. UNCLE JED'S BARBERSHOP is a book I enjoy reading over and over to kids of all ages. What a marvelous lesson. I think it is important for kids to be reminded of how unfair things were to African Americans many years ago. But the best part of the book reminds us all that if we work hard enough, we can realize our dream. Even after reading this book to six different classes in one day, I still cry my eyes out on the last few pages--the most perfect ending!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book that should be read to children of any age.
Review: This fabulous book stole my heart. I feel so lucky to have a job that allows me to share my love of books with my wonderful students. I do my elementary counseling through children's literature. UNCLE JED'S BARBERSHOP is a book I enjoy reading over and over to kids of all ages. What a marvelous lesson. I think it is important for kids to be reminded of how unfair things were to African Americans many years ago. But the best part of the book reminds us all that if we work hard enough, we can realize our dream. Even after reading this book to six different classes in one day, I still cry my eyes out on the last few pages--the most perfect ending!

Rating:
Summary: Great story--it made me cry (2nd-6th graders)
Review: This story is an historical fiction account of an African American family who struggles during the Depression. This is a great book to teach: economics--scarcity of money affects decisions; perseverence; work ethics.