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The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore
Last updated Sunday, April 6, 2025
Author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Illustrator: R. Gregory Christie
Date of Publication: 2015
ISBN: 0761339434
Grade Level: 3rd (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Apr. 2025
Synopsis:
In the 1930s, Lewis's dad, Lewis Michaux Sr., had an itch he needed to scratch - a book itch. How to scratch it? He started a bookstore in Harlem and named it the National Memorial African Bookstore.
And as far as Lewis Michaux Jr. could tell, his father's bookstore was one of a kind. People from all over came to visit the store, even famous people - Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, and Langston Hughes, to name a few. In his father's bookstore people bought and read books, and they also learned from each other. People swapped and traded ideas and talked about how things could change. They came together here all because of his father's book itch.
| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have you heard of Harlem before? (north part of Manhattan, New York City)
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What do you think makes a bookstore great?
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Where is your favorite place to read? Do you like to read at the library or do you have a comfortable spot at home?
Vocabulary
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Propaganda is information, often biased or misleading, deliberately spread to influence public opinion and promote a specific agenda or cause
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Grapevine: The grapevine is a word for gossip. Anything heard on the grapevine was learned by word of mouth
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Congregate: to come together or assemble in a group, often a large one
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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The bookstore is the center of this community. Is there a similar place in your community? Bookstore? Coffee shop? House of worship?
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Why are books so important to you? Why are books so important to the world?
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What famous people appear in this book? What are they famous for?
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What do you think “Don’t get took! Read a book!” Means?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Make your own book:
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--Option 1: Using 6 sheets of paper folded in half and stapled in the middle provides 12 pages for the kids to create their own stories. The easy cover is a piece of construction paper folded in half picture DSC.01359. Attached by stapling to the white sheets of paper or tied to them with twine.
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--Option 2:The more elaborate is to use cardboard from a box covered with cloth. Two pieces of cardboard can be attached with packing tape with a little space between the pieces to provide better folding. The cloth can be attached to the cardboard by wrapping and using fabric tape. Twine can again be used to attach the pages to the cover. I'm planning on having the books ready for the kids to allow them time to focus on designing the cover and creating their stories. Hopefully they will continue writing or drawing their stories at home or perhaps share with their class at school.
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Sample illustrations are at https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/april-2025-people-places-around-the-world/
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Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22. Make an Earth Day poster or flyer.
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Easter Sunday is April 20. Make an Easter card for someone.
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| Special activities: |
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Create your own slogan about why books are so important, like one of the many clever ones in the book.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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