PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Go Forth and Tell by Breanna J. McDaniel & April Harrison
ABOUT THE BOOK
From an award-winning author and illustrator comes this picture book biography about beloved librarian and storyteller Augusta Braxton Baker, the first Black coordinator of children’s services at all branches of the New York Public Library. Before Augusta Braxton Baker became a storyteller, she was an excellent story listener. Her grandmother brought stories like Br’er Rabbit and Arthur and Excalibur to life, teaching young Augusta that when there’s a will, there’s always a way. When she grew up, Mrs. Baker began telling her own fantastical stories to children at the 135th Street branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem. But she noticed that there were hardly any books at the library featuring Black people in respectful, uplifting ways. Thus began her journey of championing books, writers, librarians, and teachers centering Black stories, educating and inspiring future acclaimed authors like Audre Lorde and James Baldwin along the way. As Mrs. Baker herself put “Children of all ages want to hear stories. Select well, prepare well and then go forth and just tell.”
REVIEW
Combining gorgeous art and lyrical text, Go Forth and Tell shares the story of Augusta Baker, the first Black coordinator of children's services at all branches of the New York Public Library. Augusta loved stories from the time she was little, listening to her grandmother's tales. After growing up and attending teacher college, Augusta eventually became a librarian in Harlem. But she noticed that the few books about black people she found in the library were inaccurate and wrong. Using her own storytelling prowess, she shared her stories with young listeners, helping to inspire James Baldwin and Audre Lorde and other soon to be known BIPOC writers, educators, and librarians. Long before the terms "windows and mirrors" were being used to describe the importance of children seeing themselves in the books they read, Augusta worked hard to find and share such literature. Her skills as a storyteller lead her around the country sharing stories with everyone she met. Not only is this an important story for librarians such as myself, but it's an important reminder of the role storytellers have in human society, whether as a teacher, a journalist or TV reporter, an author, a politician, or an activist. Not only is this book an inspiring reminder to speak up and share our stories, but also the power a single person can wield through the power of stories. The illustrator's use of mixed media collage, acrylics and pens blends together to create stunning art that honors it's subject perfectly. A wonderful example of the storytelling that Augusta Baker spent her life advocating.
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