I've loved books and reading from an early age. My family and I go to the library nearly every week to check out books, do research, or attend library programs like storytime. My interest in libraries led me to read books about libraries and write one of my own. Iām a childrenās book author living in North Carolina with my husband and two book-devouring kids. I Want My Book Back is my second book, following my debut, Teach Your Giraffe to Ski. When Iām not reading or writing, I like hanging out with my family, being outdoors, and going on everyday adventures.
As my kids are getting older, I keep my eyes open for longer, more complex picture books ā and this book attracted my attention. Itās a great non-fiction biography for kids who like learning about notable historical personalities. It took roughly 45 minutes to read this book with the kids, and we all learned so much about Schomburg and his quest to collect literature by and about people of African descent worldwide. One thing that really impressed the kids and me was how he managed to keep this humongous collection in his home. (The kids and I were wondering if the whole family was sleeping on books instead of beds)!
In luminous paintings and arresting poems, two of childrenās literatureās top African-American scholars track Arturo Schomburgās quest to correct history.
Where is our historian to give us our side? Arturo asked.
Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an AfroāPuerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerkās lifeās passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburgās collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny),ā¦
