The Book Itch: Summary, Impression, Peer Review, & Library Use
Title: The Book Itch
Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Book Summary: This historical and biographical picture book is told from the point of view of Lewis, the son of Lewis Michaux Sr., who owned The National Memorial African Bookstore in Harlem. Lewis reflects on his memories as he shares how the bookstore was an important centerpiece of life in Harlem. The store attracted people of different ages, races, and income who sought a place to gather to share ideas and appreciate the written word. He recalls how his father started out selling books from a push cart, because he had a book itch and needed to scratch it, and how that itch transformed into the bookstore which attracted crowds. Lewis Michaux Sr. would remind his son to never stop reading, asking questions, or going to school for knowledge is the key to change. Set during the civil rights movement, the bookstore attracted influential African Americans such as Muhammed Ali and Malcolm X. The son remembers helping his father in the bookstore, setting up the platform outside the store where rallies would be held, and the large crowds which would gather to listen. He remembers the day Malcom X was assassinated, because his father was there that fateful day, and they had worried waiting to hear word. When his father returns home that evening he tells Lewis the words of Malcom will never be forgotten, his words will be remembered. The son realizes this is why people need their book store, so they do not forget and can determine for themselves what is true.
APA Reference:
Nelson, V. M. (2015). The book itch: Freedom, truth & Harlem’s greatest bookstore. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
Impressions: This wonderful story is followed by a short biography of Lewis Michaux Sr. along with authentic pictures and a note from the author, Vaunda Michaux Nelson, a relation to the family. This adds to the authenticity of the story as well as to its importance. The illustrators use of gold and red tones throughout the book represent the turmoil of this time-period and help the reader have a stronger understanding of events in the lives of the family and those who gathered at the bookstore. It is evident why it was awarded the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book Award in 2016. A note does have to be added about the assassination of Malcom X; it is not graphic nor does it contain too much detail to deter away from the focus of the story. The story is appropriate to be shared with lower and upper elementary.
Professional Review: When Lewis Micheaux requested a loan to open a bookstore in Harlem in the 1930s, the banker denied it, stating, "Black people don't read." Resilient and determined, Micheaux peddled books from a pushcart until he achieved his goal. Micheaux's neighbors thronged to The National Memorial African Bookstore, along with wellknown social and political figures such as Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali, and Langston Hughes. Written as an intermediate/middle grades companion text to No Crystal Chair, a young adult novel Nelson and Christie published in 2012, this picturebook captures the story of Lewis Micheaux from the imagined perspective of Micheaux's son. Christie's richly textured paintings portray the heartaches faced by those who fought for justice during this time period, and extensive back matter extends the story.
Porter, D. (2017, March). The 2016 notable children’s books in English language arts.[Review of the book The book itch: Freedom, truth, and Harlem's greatest bookstore by Nelson, V. M.]. Language Arts, 94(4), 273-273, 278. Retrieved from http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/LA/094-4/0944-mar2017/LA0944Reviews.pdf
Library Use: Create a custom Google search engine for students to use as they construct a timeline of historic events which occurred during the Civil Rights movement.