Laguna Niguel Friends of the Library

Trinity College, Dublin. <3

Born April 1, 1911, Augusta Braxston Baker, was a trailblazing librarian, a spellbinding storyteller, editor and former custodian of the children's section at... the New York Public Library. According to the African American Registry, " in 1937, she became a children's librarian at the 135th Street Branch (now the Countee Cullen Regional Branch) of the New York Public Library (NYPL). Appalled by the depiction of Black characters in the fiction available then to Black children, Baker amassed a collection of books that would provide inspiring Black role models that presented an accurate view of African American life to young people. This project started in 1939, and ended in the branch's James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection. Baker's dedication to this cause helped produce the children's authors she was looking for and publishers eager to circulate them. In 1957, ‘Books About Negro Life for Children,’ the bibliography of the collection was published; it contained hundreds of book titles. Baker discovered her gift for storytelling, an endeavor supported by the NYPL. In 1953, she was appointed ‘storytelling specialist,’ and two years later, ‘Talking Tree,’ the first of what would be four collections of stories by Baker, was published. A promotion in 1961 made Baker coordinator of children's services in all 82 branches of the NYPL. - https://aaregistry.org//augusta-baker-mistress-of-storyte/

Happy Children's Book Day! To celebrate, here's a look back at The Royal Ballet's Tales of Beatrix Potter Ashton's enchanting creation brings to life the stories of Beatrix Potter, one of the best-loved children's authors of all time.

It's never too early and they're never too old!

Think of it: more people reading in total because they can download or listen as well as read a traditional book. More choices.

You know Little House on the Prairie, but did you know the books were a secret collaboration with Laura’s daughter? Discover the real story.

Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntary, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul. ~ Joyce Carol Oates