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    J.D. and the Family Business

    Part of J.D. the Kid Barber

    Author J. Dillard
    Illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts
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    Ebook
    Penguin Young Readers | Kokila
    On sale Aug 03, 2021 | 160 Pages | 9780593111567
    Grades 1-3
    Reading Level: Lexile 730L | Fountas & Pinnell Q
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    Eight-year-old kid barber J.D. joins forces with his sister, who has beauty shop dreams, in this hilarious illustrated chapter book and follow-up to J.D. and the Great Barber Battle.

    J.D. is a barber battle champion. He's graduated from home haircuts to having a regular chair at the neighborhood shop, Hart and Son, and he's making enough money to keep his candy jar stocked and his comic book collection growing. And yet, J.D. knows it's time for his next challenge. He doesn't just want to be the best barber in Meridian, Mississippi—he wants to be the best barber in the state . . . and maybe the country! When his older sister, Vanessa, starts to gain a following online for her hair tutorials, the kids decide that to truly level up, they must join forces. How do two siblings with big personalities, big ambitions, and competitive spirits work together (or not) to take over the hair world?

    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 Hair Show Showdown
    © His Images Ink
    J. Dillard View titles by J. Dillard
    © Michèle Eyenga
    Akeem S. Roberts is the illustrator of the J.D. the Kid Barber chapter book series, the first book of which was a School Library Journal Best Book of 2021, a Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2021, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor recipient, and a Texas Bluebonnet Master List selection. He has worked as an illustrator for Hasbro (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) and as a cartoonist for The New Yorker. The Class Pet Ghost Detective series is his author-illustrator debut. Visit Akeem at AkeemTeam.com to see more of his work. View titles by Akeem S. Roberts
    Praise for J.D. and the Great Barber Battle:

    ★"A surefire win of a read expressly made for young Black boys to cherish."
    —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.” 
    —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."
    —The Horn Book

    About

    Eight-year-old kid barber J.D. joins forces with his sister, who has beauty shop dreams, in this hilarious illustrated chapter book and follow-up to J.D. and the Great Barber Battle.

    J.D. is a barber battle champion. He's graduated from home haircuts to having a regular chair at the neighborhood shop, Hart and Son, and he's making enough money to keep his candy jar stocked and his comic book collection growing. And yet, J.D. knows it's time for his next challenge. He doesn't just want to be the best barber in Meridian, Mississippi—he wants to be the best barber in the state . . . and maybe the country! When his older sister, Vanessa, starts to gain a following online for her hair tutorials, the kids decide that to truly level up, they must join forces. How do two siblings with big personalities, big ambitions, and competitive spirits work together (or not) to take over the hair world?

    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 Hair Show Showdown

    Author

    © His Images Ink
    J. Dillard View titles by J. Dillard
    © Michèle Eyenga
    Akeem S. Roberts is the illustrator of the J.D. the Kid Barber chapter book series, the first book of which was a School Library Journal Best Book of 2021, a Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2021, a Charlotte Huck Award Honor recipient, and a Texas Bluebonnet Master List selection. He has worked as an illustrator for Hasbro (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) and as a cartoonist for The New Yorker. The Class Pet Ghost Detective series is his author-illustrator debut. Visit Akeem at AkeemTeam.com to see more of his work. View titles by Akeem S. Roberts

    Praise

    Praise for J.D. and the Great Barber Battle:

    ★"A surefire win of a read expressly made for young Black boys to cherish."
    —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.” 
    —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."
    —The Horn Book

    Additional formats

    Other books in this series

    Other Books by this Author

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