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.
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