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.
