GO FORTH AND TELL: THE LIFE OF AUGUSTA BAKER, LIBRARIAN AND MASTER STORYTELLER, by Breanna J. McDaniel and April Harrison, Dial Books, Feb. 6, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 5-8)
Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian And Master Storyteller, by Breanna J. McDaniel and April Harrison, is fantastic.
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 it: “Children of all ages want to hear stories. Select well, prepare well and then go forth and just tell.” —Synopsis provided by Dial Books
Go Forth and Tell is a book that belongs in every library. After all, it is a picture book biography about librarian and storyteller Augusta Braxton Baker, the first Black coordinator of children’s services at all branches of the New York Public Library.
Author Breanna J. McDaniel writing is warm and clear. Through her, you can almost hear Augusta speak. Her pacing is spot on, just inviting readers to say the words out loud. Illustrator April Harrison’s art is stunning. Her use of mixed media collage, acrylics and artist pens brings Augusta’s story to life.
This is a book I’d happily share with family and friends.
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