This idea from The Fuller Cut barbershop in Ypsilanti, Michigan is so utterly cool it just has to be shared, and we hope that it spreads to shops across the country.

Our kids need to read, and not just any books, they need to fill their heads with history, facts and role model stories. Our kids need inspiring. And any chance for such a thing to happen should be taken.

So, The Fuller Cut came up with a simple idea. Kids who read aloud to their barber from the shops library, which only features books with black role models, will get a $2 discount.

How amazing is that!

Often the $2 discount is given to the kids by the parents too, nothing wrong with a little money incentive, right?

Ryan Griffin has been working at the shop for over 20 years, he heard about a similar idea across the country and started bringing old books from home (he has three kids of his own) to the shop and started the program.

The book in the above image is Chocolate Me! and is available from Amazon here.

It’s being embraced by parents, the kids love it and teachers have been dropping compliments too.

Griffin told the Huffington Post

“When little kids that don’t really know how to read or what’s going on see an older kid in the chair with a book and then grab a book too, that’s what’s important,” said Griffin. “Because when a kid thinks it’s cool to read, that’s a gift.”

He also says that kids in the program are tracked too and it’s been helping build up confidence for those who are afraid to read in class.

Thanks to the Huff for this story’s details: http://huff.to/2dlmqtu

Personally, I can’t give enough praise to this idea. I imagine it’s making kids want to read more, not just in the barber chair. I’m sure many kids make their parents get the book and ask that they carry on reading it at home.

These programs absolutely need our support. We should encourage every business in our area to follow suit!

What do you think?