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Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Derrick Barnes, (i) Gordon C. James
Picture Book
Realistic Fiction
October 10th, 2017
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 a celebration of the way boys feel when they leave the barber's chair.

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