Alvin Irby

Alvin Irby is an award-winning early childhood educator, social entrepreneur, comedian, and author. As Founder and Chief Reading Inspirer at Barbershop Books, winner of the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize, Irby leads a national movement to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to identify as readers and to read for fun. His popular TED Talk, “How to inspire every child to be a lifelong reader” and his debut children’s book, Gross Greg, combine his passion for early literacy and humor. Alvin Irby holds an MS in Education from Bank Street College of Education and an MPA from New York University.