Black women librarians have been integral to the collection and preservation of Black literature and culture. Vivian Harsh, Chicago’s first Black librarian, curated an extensive collection of Black literature for the George Cleveland Hall Branch on Chicago's South Side. While Vivian Harsh was collecting Black literature for adults, Charlemae Hill Rollins was working to collect books for the youth. Rollins regularly consulted with schools and families on books that depicted Black people with respect and dignity. She began curating lists of books that she felt were strong in their depictions of Black life. At the same time, August Braxton Baker was doing similar work as a children’s librarian in Harlem. Baker believed in the power of storytelling and taught generations of librarians how to tell stories that sparked a love of stories and reading in young children. In Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, Breanna J. McDaniel partners with illustrator April Harrison to tell the story of Augusta Baker’s life and contributions to Black children’s literate lives.

In the opening spread, Harrison depicts a young Augusta Baker sitting on the lap of her grandmother reading from a book by candlelight. Harrison mixes greens, reds, and oranges to depict the warm firelight. Augusta’s grandmother’s frame takes over both pages of the spread highlighting how important she and her storytelling are to Augusta. As the story continues, readers watch Augusta grow from a story-listener to a storyteller. In a later illustration, Harrison depicts Baker standing before a group of children. The children sit with their heads turned attentively towards Augusta. In later pages, Harrison depicts James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Augusta Baker influenced both authors during her time in Harlem. One of the most affecting images in the book is the one with a large Augusta Baker standing over several apartment buildings with her hands open. There are books falling from her into the apartments below. The mixture of green, white, and yellowish paint looks like the universe to depict how far Baker’s influence travelled as she told stories. In the final image, Harrison shows people of varying races with their mouth open as if telling a story. Below them a festival takes place and storytellers share their craft. 

April Harrison expertly uses "mixed-media collage, acrylics, and artist pens" to tell the story of Augusta Baker’s life and legacy. Each illustration makes clear Augusta’s love and passion for storytelling. I believe that if Augusta Baker were alive, she would add McDaniel’s and Harrison’s book to her list of excellent books for Black children.

[Read The Horn Book Magazine review of Go Forth and Tell]