Celebrate Black Arts with a Book-It Repertory Theatre performance of the award-winning children’s book,
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut. Derrick Barnes is an award-winning children’s author, whose books celebrate and portray Black children in positive lights. He is the recipient of the Newberry Honor and Coretta Scott King Award for his book, Ode to the Fresh Cut. Says Barnes,
"I want to leave behind a body of work my children can be proud of, but I also want to change how children see themselves in this world. I want to thwart those negative images and make sure they know they are loved.” Barnes currently resides with his family in Charlotte, North Carolina. Learn more at
derrickdbarnes.com