The Fletcher Free Library is pleased to announce the next book for the Burlington StoryWalk(R) installation, All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier’s intricately-layered collages embody the joy and beauty of Black identity, while Charles’ poetic text reassures children that they matter, and always will.
In the author’s note, Tami Charles shares she wrote All Because You Matter “to provide parents with a starting point for conversations about the racial climate in our country today.” Library Director Mary Danko says, “As our community prepares to recognize the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, this January, we hope that Burlington families will take this opportunity to engage in these important discussions.”
The Fletcher Free Library will also create a Story Experience, displaying Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy in the library’s front windows for passersby to explore. With illustrations by Ekua Holmes, Black is a Rainbow Color celebrates a people, history, and culture as a child reflects on the meaning of being Black. “We are excited to share these beautiful, lyrical stories that so powerfully deliver messages of change and hope for our world. Let's use these books to have conversations with our children, celebrate Black lives and make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream come true!” says Youth Services Librarian Rebecca Goldberg.
The Burlington StoryWalk(R) inspires families to get outside and explore while engaging with meaningful stories. The Burlington StoryWalk(R) path can be found at the northeastern corner of the Leddy Arena parking lot and is a collaboration between the Fletcher Free Library, Burlington City Arts, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, and local sponsors. The new Burlington StoryWalk(R) story and the Story Experience will remain on display through February to celebrate Black History Month.
