Offers the touching story of a man who spends his life struggling, saving, and sacrificing to build and own his own barbershop and who, despite the many racial difficulties that stand in his way, opens the doors of his new shop to the public at the age of seventy-nine. Reprint.

At age 79, Uncle Jed, after a lifetime of obstacles (including segregation and the Great Depression), finally realizes his dream of owning a barbershop. "Convivial descriptions of family life are enhanced by Ransome's spirited oil paintings," said PW. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

James E. Ransome’s highly acclaimed illustrations for  Before She Was Harriett received the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed’s Barbershop;  Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; and  Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. He frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome. Some of their titles include  Game Changers: The Story of Venus Serena Williams, which received four starred reviews;  My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle’s Journey to Alvin Ailey; and  Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. Mr. Ransome teaches illustration at Pratt Institute and lives in upstate New York with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.