Barbers are storytellers, mentors, entrepreneurs, and trusted leaders in their communities. For World Barber Day, Barbershop Books is celebrating our barber partners who are also authors and using their stories to inspire children, families, and future entrepreneurs.
From helping children feel confident during their first haircut to encouraging dreamers to move beyond their comfort zones, these barber-authors remind us that the barbershop is more than a place for haircuts. It is a space for learning, encouragement, confidence, and connection.
Beyond The Chair: DARE TO GO! by Jeffery Broadie
Jeffery Broadie’s Beyond The Chair: DARE TO GO! is an inspiring guide for anyone ready to dream bigger, move past fear, and pursue their purpose. Drawing from his own knowledge and experiences, Broadie encourages future entrepreneurs to keep growing through challenges, distractions, failures, obstacles, and growth pains.
His message is rooted in the idea that success is a journey. Like a tree, it begins with strong roots and continues to grow toward something greater. Through this book, Broadie invites readers to go beyond the chair and live authentically on purpose.
Fred’s First Haircut by P. Michael Boone
For many children, a first haircut can feel scary. P. Michael Boone’s Fred’s First Haircut turns that experience into a fun, rhyming story about courage, encouragement, and support.
The book follows Fred, a young dinosaur with wild hair who is nervous about going to the barbershop. With help from his parents, his barber, and a new friend, Fred learns to face his fears and make it through his first haircut like a champ.
This story is a great reminder that barbers can help children feel safe, seen, and confident during an important childhood milestone.
Wishes Don’t Fade Away: Every Cut Carries a Blessing by Johnl Fooks
Johnl Fooks’ Wishes Don’t Fade Away: Every Cut Carries a Blessing is a heartwarming children’s story about confidence, purpose, self-belief, and mentorship.
Set around a father’s barbershop, the story follows a young boy who learns important lessons through everyday moments and positive role models. It shows how encouragement, patience, and community care can help shape a child’s future and remind him that his dreams matter.
At Barbershop Books, we believe these kinds of moments are powerful. When children see barbers as reading role models, mentors, and community leaders, they experience reading and learning in a space that feels familiar, affirming, and full of possibility.
This World Barber Day, we are proud to celebrate Jeffery Broadie, P. Michael Boone, and Johnl Fooks for using their voices, experiences, and creativity to uplift others.
Their books reflect the power of barbershops as spaces of storytelling, confidence, imagination, and care. They also remind us why Barbershop Books continues to partner with barbers across the country to create joyful reading experiences for Black boys and other vulnerable children.
When children encounter books in trusted community spaces, surrounded by adults who encourage them, reading can become something positive, personal, and fun.
Happy World Barber Day to the barbers who help children, families, and communities see what is possible.
Know a barbershop we should partner with? Recommend a barbershop here.
