"On Saturday mornings we would barrel down the stairs and my mother would have an envelope ready for Mark, my oldest brother, to give to the barber. It would have a note for Ted, after whom the barber shop on Central Avenue (in Orange, NJ) was named. Ted was an old man, and my brother Randy used to joke that he might fall asleep and carve a groove through someone's afro. We would walk through Orange Park to get to the shop, encountering various people along the way ... There are so few books that appeal directly to African American boys that I wanted to help fill that gap. At the same time, I believe that the barber shop as a cultural experience is a theme that will speak to all children."
"A good storyhour choice for kids reluctant about getting their hair cut."
"Haircuts at Sleepy Sam's is a treat that young readers, both boys and girls, will enjoy."
"Both the first person narrative and the illustrations reveal the close knit relationships of the brothers and their surroundings. The text flows well and is a good choice for reading aloud."
