Bippity Bop Barbershop [Hardcover]

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley (Author), E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

In this companion book to the bestselling "I Love My Hair!, " a young boy, Miles, makes his first trip to the barbershop with his father. With the support of his dad, the barber, and the other men in the barbershop, Miles bravely sits through his first haircut.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What Natasha Anastasia Tarpley did for the mother-daughter bond in I Love My Hair! she now does for father and son in Bippity Bop Barbershop, illus. by E.B. Lewis. One full-bleed watercolor spread depicts three generations of men draped in purple barber's capes, each with his own distinguished hairstyle.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Rites of passage in a child's life are appealing subjects for picture books, and that is the case in this tale of a boy's first haircut. Tarpley's I Love My Hair! (Little, Brown, 1998) celebrates the positive self-image and cultural identity of African-American girls, and Bippity Bop does the same for boys. Miles is nervous about visiting the barber for his first "official" haircut; he's afraid that the buzzing clippers will hurt, and he doesn't know what kind of cut to request. The descriptions of Miles trying to be "brave" are labored and unconvincing. Happily, the resolution of his hairstyle dilemma rings true: he selects a cut just like his daddy's. Miles and Dad leave the shop with identical haircuts, sharing high-fives, "two cool cats" walking to the rhythm of a "bippity bop" beat. Lewis's delightfully fluid watercolor illustrations get everything just right. The book is filled with cheerful and loving scenes of home and community, and remarkably expressive portrayals of men going about their business, tending shop, or awaiting their turns in the barber chair. With its depictions of dreadlocks, Afros, and even gleaming bald pates, Bippety Bop adds diversity to the small but growing niche of multicultural books that celebrate hair.

Mary Ann Carcich, Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, Mattituck, NY

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316522848
• ISBN-13: 978-0316522847
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 0.4 x 10.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,188,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley is the author of the best-selling picture book I Love My Hair!, Princess Tiana and the Royal Ball, and other acclaimed titles for children and adults. Her children's books are on the recommended-reading lists of school and library systems worldwide. A former reporter for Fortune magazine, she is the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Ms. Tarpley is the founder of Voonderbar! Productions, LLC, a multimedia children's entertainment company. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My son and I love this book!, November 30, 2005

By 

Renee Harris - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bippity Bop Barbershop (Hardcover)

Ms. Tarpley has written a beautiful ode to a father and son tradition - going to the barbershop. She captures the nuance of this treasured neighborhood gathering spot for men. My late father was a barber and I believe my fondness for barbershops stems from that. Thank you for a beautiful book. Mr. Lewis, thanks for the awesome illustrations!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure to be shared with the family, present and future, December 11, 2004

By 

Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bippity Bop Barbershop (Hardcover)

My brother-in-law is a professional barber and he, like the fictional character in the book, has a three-year-old son. When I saw this one on the shelf, I was automatically drawn to its pages. Because I was familiar with the author and illustrator, having purchased several years ago their "I Love My Hair" for my then-three-year-old niece, I knew that this book had to be one of great quality.

I was not disappointed. Like its predecessor, the illustrations are lifelike and the simple story of the preparation and visit to the local barbershop for a boy's FIRST haircut is engaging and realistic.

This is a book that I'm sure that my nephew, and all little boys, can pass down to their progeny and future generations to come.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like Father Like Son, February 15, 2003

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bippity Bop Barbershop (Hardcover)

Natasha Anastasia Tarpley introduces us to Miles as he gets ready for his first hair-cut. As most small children are, he's a bit nervous while at the same time excited as he takes this journey into the world of the "Big Boys." The scene of the barbershop shows that of encouragement and support for little Miles and depicts the relationship between father and son and the way men interact with one another.

With the use of watercolors, E. B. Lewis illustrates the characters in a way that brings them to life and complements the story perfectly. They are warm, colorful, and do an excellent job of conveying Tarpley's characters along with the different scenes portrayed in barbershops in the African American community. This story speaks volumes and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers