Day 19: J. Dillard

J. Dillard (known as the “Barberpreneur”) is a former managing partner for ConAllegiance, a consulting firm based out of Atlanta, Georgia. He is a master barber, a certified consultant, and an industry leader who started cutting his own hair at the age of ten. After many trials and tribulations, 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. He is the author of the J.D. The Kid Barber chapter book series, his first works for children, illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts. Today, 28 Days Later welcomes J Dillard to the Brown Bookshelf!

“Follow Your Clippers’ is my motto, because my clippers helped lead me to where I am today.”

-J Dillard

About J.D. and the Great Barber Battle: J.D. has a big problem–it’s the night before the start of third grade and his mom has just given him his first and worst home haircut. When the steady stream of insults from the entire student body of Douglass Elementary becomes too much for J.D., he takes matters into his own hands and discovers that, unlike his mom, he’s a genius with the clippers. His work makes him the talk of the town and brings him enough hair business to open a barbershop from his bedroom. But when Henry Jr., the owner of the only official local barbershop, realizes he’s losing clients to J.D., he tries to shut him down for good. How do you find out who’s the best barber in all of Meridian, Mississippi? With a GREAT BARBER BATTLE!

Awards and Honors:

2021 New York Public Library Best Books
2021 Chicago Public Library Best Books
2021 School Library Journal Best Books
2022-2023 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
2022 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor

For more about the series, visit Penguin Random House.

“Follow Your Clippers’ is my motto, because my clippers helped lead me to where I am today.”

-J Dillard

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