BOOKS UP THE MOUNTAIN: A Packhorse Librarian Story

 Let's hear it for LIBRARIANS! (Pause for applause.)

For LIBRARIANS PAST AND PRESENT! (More applause, please.)

For LIBRARIANS matching readers to the materials they want, need, and love! (ROAR of applause!)

(Pause to recover.)

WAXWING BOOKS, 2025

BOOKS UP THE MOUNTAIN: A PACKHORSE LIBRARIAN STORY
is the lyrically told account of an unnamed librarian tagged Book Woman. But Book Woman does not work from a library building. Or a bus. Or even on a road. 

Talented author Caroline Starr Rose brings concise and compelling prose that contributes a lyrical tone to this history. Illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard are slightly stylized but offer the natural colors, familiar figures, and subtle finishes of a landscape from earlier times. The visual narrative reveals the joyful transactions as well as the challenging struggles of Book Woman and her clients. In this case Book Woman represents the many women who took on this important role, had a limited range of printed items to circulate, and adhered to their mission despite serious challenges. 

On sprawling spreads of soft-edged landscapes across changing seasons, Book Woman follows her route through valleys and hollows, around mountain trails and ridges, knocking at doors and windows. Children and adults alike know her schedule and watch for her, welcoming pamphlets, series books, recipes, and news from far beyond their view. Brief but beautiful lines read descriptively but as poetically as a psalm:

"A cluster of clouds crowds the skies.

Streams surge. Waters rise."

Combined with images of gusting willow limbs and a shift of emotion on her face, those lines let readers feel the tension of being isolated far from home, committed to her mission but aware of impending storms. Along the way Book Woman keeps company with the ill and aging, offers suggestions and readings for the young ones, and notates requests, observing needs. On weekends, Book Women gather to exchange inventory, repair books, stitch bindings, and discuss the needs of their mountain readers. They were hired during the depths of The Great Depression and crippling unemployment by the Works Progress Administration to infuse modest income into families in Appalachia while uplifting literacy and community.

This well-researched, lovingly written, and entertaining picture book is a treasure at any time. In our present world, librarians are under siege while information and entertainment access is a click away for kids of any age. This story from history offers an engaging invitation to recognize the value of literature and its delivery. It provides a step back in time with a nod to the dramatic change in circumstances, slowing down the absorption of the story and its impact through the power of poetic pacing and phrasing combined with lush expanses of nature's best views.

If you aren't familiar with other books by Caroline Starr Rose, do yourself a favor and check out her award-winning middle grade titles, verse novels, and picture books.

Some prior posts featuring picture books about extraordinary efforts of  librarians are available HERE, HERE, and HERE, with a link to a PBS documentary on the packhorse librarians HERE.

Who is AUGUSTA BAKER? You Ought To Know

 

DIAL BOOKS
for YOUNG READERS

The title of this picture book serves well as a directive to all who read it: GO FORTH AND TELL, The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller. I urge you to do both: Read this important biography and then go forth and tell others about the remarkable life of Augusta Baker. (For now,  just click on her name to learn something while waiting to get the book.) Written by Breanna J McDaniels, a history-making librarian of her own standing, and illustrated by April Harrison, award-winning artist who captures and expands visually on Baker's charismatic personality and power. 

This is both a biography and a virtual "how to" life model for ways to raise a literate, community-engaged adult. Living with her grandmother set the stage for their incredibly deep connection and offered inspiration for Baker's storytelling. "Lap time" is shown, but spot illustrations reveal that every experience, from mundane daily chores to intentional shared time, involved colorful and theatrical storytelling of a vast and varied nature. Throughout it all, Augusta greeted her grandmother's words with "eager ears" As a result, Augusta's own reading left her fascinated with words and stories, while hoping to claim storytelling as her own, using those skills to help others grow their own"eager ears". 

The account has Augusta taking that dream to college, discovering that she and her "lilting, tilting voice" belong in front of a crowd. That ranged from students in a classroom, to young groups at a library, and on to inspiring other adults to listen and connect. Her work as children's librarian allowed her to cull racist and hateful or simply incorrect  books from her shelves and fill them with books that celebrated uplifting stories and provided heroes, real and imagined. Among her young audiences were eventual stellar Black authors and storytellers. Her storytelling and literary guidance fillied their minds and hearts with stories that threw open possibilities not encountered in daily life.

As the cover art suggests, Baker's impact embraced the entire city and beyond. Her role in New York's Public Library earned her the nickname Mistress of Storytelling. She has been honored with awards, festivals, and the support of countless literary stars. Throughout her life, including her leadership of educators and librarians, Baker stressed that the human elements of oral storytelling animated literature with magic: voice, expression, gesture. When those skills are effective, listeners lean in with "eager ears".  Back matter includes a very personal author note, quotation citations, a timeline, and captioned photos. Together with the main text account, this is a comprehensive and glowing  introduction to a remarkable woman everyone should know.

August Picture Book Workshop: Openings Available

Time is running out, but openings are available for my August Picture Book Workshop. If you are in the SE Wisconsin area, are a teacher, librarian, instructional aide, home school teacher, or otherwise interested in improving the quality of literacy instruction, this may be just the thing for you. Further details are included on the link.

(If clicking on the link below doesn't work for you,  copy/paste into a new page.)

http://www4.uwm.edu/soe/departments/outreach/picturebook_workshop/

UWM Education-Outreach Summer Workshop: 

Unpacking the Power of Picture Books

Here’s what past participants have said:

“Thanks for sharing so much information. This class/course was the best way to spend $50.00 and increase my knowledge.”  MPS Teacher

“I know I’ll use these ideas in the classroom.”

“I came away excited and with many great resources.

I will recommend this workshop to colleagues!”

Improve and increase your use of quality picture books to generate and practice powerful reading strategies across elementary levels: 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

August 6, 7, 8, 2012

Times: 9:00-4:00 (lunch not included)

Core session- Monday

Comprehension/Fluency/Vocabulary- Tuesday

Science/Math/Social Studies/ Skills- Wednesday

Location:  New Berlin Public Library, Community Room

Enroll for all sessions- $50, or daily sessions priced individually.

For more information, contact Sandy Brehl:   sbrehl.workshop@yahoo.com

Register NOW through UWM Education Outreach by phone: 414-227-3200

Please forward to others who might be interested.  Thank you!

 Sandy Brehl 

 @PBWorkshop   

 http://UnpackingPictureBookPower.blogspot.com 

 Using Picture Books to Improve Learning 

 sbrehl.workshop@yahoo.com  

 Affiliated with UWM Education Outreach