Read a book!'), which appear throughout, as well as his nickname for the shop, 'The House of Common Sense and Home of Proper Propaganda.' Christie's paintings powerfully contrast the idea of the bookstore as a refuge with the tensions of the day, particularly during a section of the book about Michaux's friendship with Malcolm X and his anguish following the activist's assassination. Michaux's love of words comes through in his catchy aphorisms and sales pitches ('Knowledge is power. and a mission.' Writing in the voice of Michaux's admiring son, Nelson illuminates Lewis's generosity (he invited those who couldn't afford books into his shop to read) and his fervent belief in the power of words and books to change lives. The shop was opened in the 1930s by Nelson's great-uncle, Lewis Michaux, who 'started out with five books. 'Nelson and Christie bring the story of Harlem's storied National Memorial African Bookstore to picture book readers in this companion to their 2012 YA collaboration, No Crystal Stair. Gregory Christie's illustrations have earned him many awards, including a Caldecott Honor, many Coretta Scott King Honors, and multiple spots on the New York Times' annual Best Illustrated Children's Books lists. She is a former youth services librarian in New Mexico.

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson is the author of The Book Itch, as well as three Coretta Scott King Award-winning books: No Crystal Stair, Bad News for Outlaws, and Almost to Freedom.

The Book Itch by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson