Location: United States (21 states)

Barbershop Books encourages children under eight to read for fun by establishing reading spaces in barbershops, delivering early literacy programming, and providing resources to help children identify as readers. It focuses on Black boys, one of the populations with the lowest rates of reading proficiency in the United States.[1]

The organization provides books chosen by boys to barbershops, which Black boys often visit, and trains barbers to encourage boys to read.

Their online programs include a free library with digital children’s books, a summer learning program, and a tool to help educators and parents understand children’s reading preferences.

The summer program, Reading So Lit Summer, is a free two-week virtual literacy program taught by male high school students of color that also provides free books for participants. Children use a reading preferences tool to build a profile summarizing their reading preferences, including favorite types of books and where and when they like to read. Caregivers then use this profile to select books and personalize instruction and story times.

Prior to Barbershop Books, more than 90% of barbers in the program reported rarely or never seeing boys read, but after six months of the program, more than 75% of barbers reported seeing boys read daily or almost every day. Following participating in Reading So Lit, 85% of caregivers report improvements in children’s reading confidence and motivation, and 70% say their child is more likely to identify as a reader.

Research shows that children identifying as a reader and spending time reading outside of school predict reading comprehension,[2] and reading for fun is positively linked to academic achievement.[3,4]

Learn more: https://barbershopbooks.org/

Leading Men Fellowship trains young men of color in evidence-based practices for developing early literacy. CAP Tulsa provides high-quality early childhood education programs to families in Oklahoma.

For more CHIP guidance on improving educational outcomes, see CHIP’s Early School Success, Pathways to Student Success, and High Impact Opportunities to Improve Teaching Quality guides.