Alvin Irby brings books to the barbershop!

Barbershop Books created a brilliant, simple, direct and effective reading program. It was awarded the coveted National Book Foundation’s Innovations Prize in 2017.

Boys are often happy to read with family and teachers until a certain point, when they stop. Maybe it’s not cool; maybe they haven’t found books they want to read.

It’s been an ongoing concern for families, educators and publishers eager to get young male readers engaged. The African-American community has been especially worried.

Barbershops are a significant community space within many African-American neighborhoods. Barbershop Books saw the ease with which barbers could ask their young clients to read to them while getting a haircut. The boys enjoyed sharing books with people they admire and identify with, and expanded their awareness and pleasure in finding culturally relevant books and materials.

Here is a link to Barbershop Books.

Here is their clear and important Mission Statement:

Help black boys ages 4-8 to identify as readers by connecting books and reading to a male-centered space and by involving men in boys’ early reading experiences.