Eight-year-old kid barber J.D. takes his talent to an Atlanta hair show in this illustrated chapter book and follow-up to J.D. and the Great Barber Battle.At only eight years old, J.D. the Kid Barber has already won a barber battle and appeared on local TV. Now he’s the youngest barber to be invited to the Beauty Brothers Hair Expo in Atlanta! J.D. gets the VIP treatment—he takes his first flight, rides in a limo for the first time, and gets gifts from the show’s sponsors. At the show, there are hair classes to take, product samples to try, and some of J.D.’s favorite hair influencers to meet. And, of course, there’s his own demo alongside kid hairstylist, Isabel Is Incredible. But what J.D. is most excited about is snapping a pic with eleven-year-old rap sensation Li’l Eazy Breezy, which is harder than it sounds! The world of hair and beauty is so much bigger than J.D. could’ve imagined, and he’s ready to step up his game.
Check out the other chapter books in the J.D. the Kid Barber series:
J.D. and the Great Barber Battle J.D. and the Family Business
On sale: November 16, 2021
Age: 6-8 years
Grade: Grades 1-3
Page count: 128 Pages
ISBN: 9780593111581
Reading level: Lexile: 800L | Fountas/Pinnell: Q
J. Dillard (known as the "Barberpreneur") is a master barber, a certified consultant, and an industry leader who started cutting his own hair at the age of ten. He began cutting hair professionally in 1999 and became a shop owner while attending college at Tuskegee University in Alabama. He travels the country with his clients as a personal barber and calls Atlanta home. This is his first book series for children.
Akeem S. Roberts is an illustrator based in Brooklyn. He works as an in-house animator for Holler Studios and contributes cartoons regularly to
The New Yorker. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. When Akeem is not working, he likes to make comics about his day-to-day life on Instagram @AkeemTeam.
Praise for J.D. and the Great Barber Battle:★"A surefire win of a read expressly made for young Black boys to cherish."
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Kirkus Reviews,
starred review“Dillard has a sharp ear for dialogue, and J.D.’s conversational narration paired with the story’s gentle humor and perfectly placed pop culture references will ensure a wide appeal. Akeem S. Roberts’ cartoon-style illustrations of J.D. and his friends are packed with personality and make this a great choice for readers transitioning into chapter books. The first book in a planned series,
J.D. and the Great Barber Battle feels like a winner.”
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BookPage "The African American cultural references and community values will resonate with readers of all ages, while the
joyful, wholesome story will give them something to look forward to in subsequent entries."
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The Horn Book
