Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Starred Review Born in 1903, Ella Baker grew up on her grandparents' North Carolina farm, where they'd once labored as slaves. There she learned to listen to others, to help people in need, and to "lift as you climb." From her grandfather's church pulpit, she heard the resounding question, "What do you hope to accomplish?" After college, Baker worked for the NAACP and SCLC. She gradually became a significant figure in the civil rights movement, challenging its leaders on occasion, speaking up for women within the movement, focusing on issues such as voting rights, and always listening at the grassroots level. She helped plan the Freedom Rides, and she advised and befriended many young activists throughout her career. In the striking gouache paintings, Christie uses strong lines and vibrant colors to recreate scenes from Baker's life and times, while expressing the leader's dignity, empathy, and determination. Repeatedly referencing Baker's childhood lessons, Powell's free-verse text conveys the importance of Ella Baker as a strong-minded woman working purposefully outside the limelight and making a significant difference within the civil rights movement. The question "What do you hope to accomplish?" tolls like a bell through the narrative, underscoring Baker's driving sense of purpose. As the book's closing line, the question challenges readers as well.

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Church said / Help your neighbor. / Mama said / Lift as you climb.

Kirkus Reviews

Early in life, Ella Baker listened to her grandfather's sermons, her grandmother's stories about life during slavery, and her mother's advice to "Lift as you climb": the lodestars that guided Baker to her purpose and accomplishments.Powell's verse biography chronicles the professional life of civil rights leader Ella Josephine Baker. Not as widely familiar as Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dorothy Height, she nevertheless played a pivotal role in educating African Americans of all backgrounds about freedom, voting, and their rights. The book cites Baker's working relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as they formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as her work with the NAACP and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Christie's illustrations are in the style of African American folk art, a harmonious choice for the subject matter. Vivid colors abound, and the typeset alternates between black and white, both clearly legible against solid backgrounds. Centered in distinctive display type is Baker's oft-repeated question, "What do you hope to accomplish?" There is an urgency to the clipped text, accentuated by frequent use of the em dash: "Ella thought [Dr. King] should ask- / not command. / Still, she agreed- / for the cause." Substantial backmatter includes an author's note with further information about Baker's personal life, a glossary of the initialisms, a timeline, and a bibliography.A beautiful book and a welcome addition to the picture-book–biography shelf. (Picture book/biography. 5-8)

School Library Journal (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Gr 4-7 Ella Baker (190386) was raised by the children of parents who were previously enslaved. From an early age, her parents told her she had the potential to change the world. She learned to listen to others and use what she heard for good. Throughout her life, she committed herself to standing up for human rights, always asking herself and others, "What do I hope to accomplish?" No matter the persecution or struggles she faced, Baker always rose above, lifting others with her as she climbed. This lyrical biography provides insight into the life of a member of the civil rights movement, creating connections between her work and modern times. Fears and obstacles are honestly depicted, as are injustice and violence. Christie's detailed illustrations are visceral. The artwork shows a Black man being beaten by two white police officers, Black youth imprisoned for peaceful protests, and buses burning after being firebombed. Some prior knowledge of Black American history is required to fully appreciate this book; terms such as emancipation and Negroes are used without explanation or context. Supplemental information detailing the purposes of different organizations Baker was affiliated with, as well as a time line of her life, provides clarity. The messages encouraging all people of color to vote and take their places in the government come through strong and clear. VERDICT A highly informative picture book biography that captures the determination and strength of an influential civil rights leader and adds to students' understanding of the civil rights movement. Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Sch., NE