Sarah Jean’s Uncle Jed was the only black barber in the county. He had a kind heart and a warm smile. And he had a dream. Living in the segregated South of the 1920’s, where most people were sharecroppers, Uncle Jed had to travel all over the county to cut his customers’ hair. He lived for the day when he could open his very own barbershop. But it was a long time, and many setbacks, from five-year-old Sarah Jean’s emergency operation to the bank failures of the Great Depression, before the joyful day when Uncle Jed opened his shiny new shop – and twirled a now grown-up Sarah Jean around in the barber chair.
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop has received numerous awards, including a Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award, the Living The Dream Book Award, the Charlie May Simon Honor Book Award, and is a featured Reading Rainbow book.
Readers are saying:
“Now I know how to explain to my dad that I will never give up on my dreams.” -Z. Chowhury, 4th grade
“As a mother and teacher I have never read a book for children that was so rich in content and emotion.” -M. Berkowitz, New jersey
“When I read that book I started back believing in my dream.” -T. Allen, 3rd grade
“When I first read this book back in elementary school I loved it and still do. I am a college sophomore now. Ms. Mitchell had come to our school. She wrote ‘Never Give Up On Your Dreams’ in my book. I’m following that dream by going to college.” -A. Jones
A musical has been adapted from Uncle Jed’s Barbershop. It has won the following awards:
- ASCAP/Disney Workshop Winner
- O’Neill Musical Theatre Conference Finalist
- Richard Rodgers Award Finalist
- National Music Theater Network’s Director’s Choice Award Winner
- Featured Show in the New York Musical Theater Festival
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop opened to rave reviews in Denver at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre – September, 2015.
For more information:
Uncle Jed’s Barbershop musical
