Janna And The Kings - Hardcover

Saturdays are special for Janna. That’s when she and Granddaddy spend the whole day together. Walking down the street with Granddaddy is like strolling through a kingdom with a king. He knows everyone and everyone knows him. Best of all, Granddaddy and Janna always head for her favorite place in the world—Terrell’s barbershop. There, Granddaddy and his friends are kings in barber chair thrones, and Janna is a princess, showered with love and attention. One day Granddaddy passes away, and Janna feels she has lost their wonderful kingdom forever. But with great courage and some unexpected help, Janna finds her way back to the happiness of those special Saturdays. Winner of LEE & LOW’s New Voices Award, JANNA AND THE KINGS is a moving story of love and rediscovery, and a celebration of the enduring bond between grandchild and grandparent.

PATRICIA SMITH was inspired to write JANNA AND THE KINGS by childhood memories of Saturdays spent at the barbershop with her father. Smith is an award-winning journalist, playwright, and performer, and a four-time individual champion of the National Poetry Slam. She also authored the companion book to the critically acclaimed PBS documentary "Africans in America." Smith lives in Tarrytown, New York. This is her first picture book. AARON BOYD is a full-time illustrator with a fine arts degree from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. His first picture book, BABU’S SONG, was published by LEE & LOW BOOKS. Boyd has also illustrated numerous stories for children’s magazines and educational publishers, among them LEE & LOW’s Bebop Books imprint. Boyd and his wife live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.