McDaniel, Breanna J. Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller. April Harrison, Illus. Dial Books, 02/2024. 40pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-0-5933-2420-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.
Before becoming a master storyteller, Augusta Braxton Baker (1911–1998) was a master story listener, beginning with her childhood in Baltimore gathering her grandmother’s stories. This tribute follows a life dedicated to sharing joyful listening with the world by promoting the power of storytelling and by lifting up Black representation in children’s literature. With “heroes that rose up and looked, talked and shined bright” just like the children in the Harlem branch where she was a librarian, Baker inspired young readers and future leaders such as James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Her all-embracing presence is powerfully portrayed through full-spread, jewel-toned illustrations, conveying richness and depth through integration of collage, patterns, and textured painted backdrops simulating the way she “painted worlds with her words.” Back matter includes timeline, sources, an author’s note, and photographs. Baker’s legacy continues to inspire storytellers today, resonating annually in the A(ugusta) Baker’s Dozen Festival in South Carolina. To join the world of stories, just “go have a listen.”
Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library