Moms look to hook bookworms

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by SARA K. TAYLOR Shaniya Newton, 5, and sisters, Lauryn, 2, and Taylor Kellum, 4, share a story. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo At top, Haven Mays, 4, reads about sea creatures during a break in the activities Nov. 2 at Ron's Cut Masters barbershop in Waldorf. Click here to enlarge this photo Lisa Curry reads "I Like Myself" to a rapt audience during Mocha Moms' unveiling of a reading nook at a Waldorf barbershop.

When Ron Moreland was asked if he would set aside a corner in his Waldorf barbershop Ron's Cut Masters for a reading nook catering to young children, he didn't have to think too hard about it.

"It's a privilege to be a part of something of this caliber," said Moreland, a fan of Dr. Seuss. "This is something for the young and old."

Part of a national program established by the National Institute of Literacy, Boys Booked on Barbershops was launched in 2004 with more than 100 barbershops throughout the nation now participating.

Since 2006, Mocha Moms, a support group for stay-at-home mothers of color, has been involved in the program, hoping to promote literacy and a love of reading among youth.

On Nov. 2, the group unveiled a reading nook at the barbershop lined with stations bearing the names of barbers — Ron, Melvin, Sean, Darryl, Marcus, Allen and Tay — who now in addition to cutting hair and trimming beards will quietly foster a love of reading among their youngest clients.

If the shop has a budding poet or hard-boiled noir writer in its midst, they have a group of moms to thank.

The Waldorf chapter of Mocha Moms boasts a membership of 32 women and is part of a national group that serves as an advocate for mothers and encourages community activism.

Mocha Moms, founded in 1999 in Prince George's County, participates in America's Promise Alliance, the National Bone Marrow program and other programs.

Girls allowed … sometimes

While the B-BOB program focuses on boys, they aren't the only ones enjoying the scattered books on a Sunday afternoon at the barbershop.

Where there are little boys, there are often big sisters and little sisters and 8-year-old Lesego Harrison found himself wedged on a sofa between Aliana Guidice, 5, and a trio of girls flipping through a picture book.

Being 8, Lesego has advanced beyond the oversized books that pop with candy-colored illustrations.

"I like chapter books," he said. "They're more fun to read. … I read Harry Potter sometimes."

Mocha Moms wanted to support the program that encourages youngsters to read.

Sherryle Jackson, a member of Mocha Moms and a teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, knows firsthand how critical early introductions to reading can be for a child.

"Reading is a basis for all learning," said Jackson, who brought along daughter, Nylah, 6, to the event. "When you begin you are learning to read, then you are reading to learn."

Setting up nooks in barbershops and beauty salons is a natural fit, said Kendra Mays, president of the Waldorf chapter of Mocha Moms.

"In the African-American community, these are the places we all congregate and share information," said Mays, mother of Trinity, 6, and Haven, 4. "It's [an] organic and natural place to get our children to read."

The nooks are designed for independent readers to plop on carpet remnants and flip through a book, or if they're too young, a small sofa is perfect for a dad or older brother to read stories to a little one.

Thanks to a donation of 100 books from Scholastic, the nook is well-stocked with books, most penned by African-American authors with an emphasis on topics that will interest barbershop patrons.

With the books at their kneecap level, kids have their own spot at the barbershop now.

Whole other worlds

If there is a child who doesn't enjoy snuggling up to mom as she reads aloud or thumbing through a book, they weren't at Ron's Cut Masters.

Syncere Shahid, 5, and his little brother, Isaac, 2, draped across their mother, Cherilyn, as she read to them during a break from the activities.

"Captain Underpants is a favorite in our house," Shahid said.

"And this one," Syncere plucked a book resting beside him. "I like ‘Magic Pickle' too."

After readings by Mocha Moms Jackson and Lisa Curry and Henry E. Lackey High School Principal James Short, Eric Kellum, better known to his young fans as Uncle E., read from his latest book, "Boogie and the Bubbles."

Kellum, a Suitland-based poet and storyteller, doesn't have to look farther than his living room to find inspiration for his children's books. His children — Eric, 7, Taylor, 4, and Lauryn, 2, — are the main characters — Diggle, Boogie and LoLo — in a series of adventures. (Baby Symone will get her own series soon.)

While Kellum engaged the young audience in bubble-blowing contests and enlisted their help to call out "ding dong" every time he flipped a page, he also reminded the gathered parents and politicians of the reason reading is essential.

"The average African-American and Latino 12th-grader is on the same reading level as the average white 7th grader," he said.

Short, an educator who started teaching in 1987, agreed that a love of books is a gateway to a lifelong journey.

"Reading is a wonderful thing. Do you know how big the world is?," he asked the children huddled as only elementary age kids can do, jumbled together, bumping into each other, eyes focused on the grownup addressing them. "When you read, you open a whole other world."

staylor@somdnews.com.