Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library tells the important story of Arturo Schomburg. As a child growing up, Schomburg realized that nowhere was the history of Black people being told in history, art or other school classes. His interest piqued, Schomburg spent his life learning and collecting.

The number of talented Blacks and the history mentioned in this book are extensive. To name a few, Schomburg learned about or knew Phillis Wheatly, the Amistad. Booker T. Washington, Toussaint Louverture, Frederick Douglass and Countee Cullen. Children will learn that Schomburg collected so many books that his wife finally issued an ultimatum…the books or her. It was from his decision in response, that the New York Public Library became the guardian of this remarkable man’s collection.

In this title, young readers also learn Schomburg’s own story. Born in Puerto Rico, he later came to New York. Schomburg had a job, unusual in his time, that involved his supervising white workers. There were three marriages, all to women named Elizabeth and many more interesting biographical details in this book.

This title deserves a place in both home and elementary school libraries. It tells the story of an important man and his major contribution to Black history.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I actually ordered this book for my classroom after reading this ARC. As a Puerto Rican, I make a point of teaching my students about Schomburg's contributions to the Harlem Renaissance so this book is a great addition to my classroom library even if it does not focus exclusively on Schomburg. Also, I do love a good biography in verse.

I enjoyed learning about Arthur Schomburg very much. As the daughter of a historian, I take history incredibly seriously and applaud Schomburg's efforts to reclaim African history from the racist attempt to bury it in oblivion. Obviously it's important for black children to have a history to look back on, but as a white person I can't stress the importance of white people acknowledging black and African history. I was amazed to learn while *reading this book* that Audoban's mother was Creole. I had no idea! Which is appalling. I didn't know about Dumas until a few years ago. Whitewashed history is fake history and we all deserve better. Arthur Schomburg dedicated his life to that mission and I applaud him.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library was written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro–Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk’s life’s passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburg’s collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny), he turned to the New York Public Library, where he created and curated a collection that was the cornerstone of a new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library is a wonderful look at the work and dreams of Schomburg. He did not want to discover the history and accomplishments that are often whitewashed from history for his own sake. As much as he loved the research, collecting, and learning he also loved teaching and sharing this information with others. I really enjoyed reading about poets, musicians, and activists that I did not know about (or know the whole story of). More importantly it inspired me to do more of my own research, and hopefully arrange a trip to the New York Public library to see this collection in person. While some might find the book a little text heavy, I cannot imagine what could be cut out of the story without losing interesting and important information. In fact, there is so much more that could have been included that I think there was a good balance. The art did a good job of matching the text and keeping my interest. I think this would be a great addition particularly for school and library collections. It would be a great discussion starter and would also be a fantastic choice for inspiring student to research people that might not have received the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

This is a topic I encountered in a novel recently so I was pretty excited to learn more about Schomburg. And the book lives up to expectations. It's more than just the story of this one man. It's the story of the people he learned about. It's a story of an entire culture. It's a surprising amount of information in a fairly short text. Appealing and informative.

More of a timeline of him and certain moments in his life to him making the library and his post secondary education and beyond. Nice story for those who want to show different people and what they accomplished to their kids.

This was an interesting story about an important historical figure who is often overlooked. However, it felt a little text-heavy. In the format I read, the art was not very exciting but perhaps it would have been better in the physical form.

'Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library' by Carole Boston Weatherford with illustrations by Eric Velasquez is the true story of a man who wanted to make sure the history of his people was not lost to time.

Arturo Schomburg lived during the time of the Harlem Renasssance and was a scholar with a mission to correct history. He did this by acquiring books and documents and art showing the contributions of the African diaspora. His collection was eventually too big for his house, so it is now part of the New York Public Library.

This is a very text heavy book for a picture book. While I enjoyed reading about the people that Arturo discovered along the way, I feel like much of that had been vastly shortened and the focus kept of Schomburg. His story alone is so interesting that it should have carried the entire book. The illustrations are rich and beautiful.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Candlewick Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

This is a fascinating biography that makes excellent use of illustrations and verse. Mr. Schomburg, while the subject, is only one of the people covered. There are many other figures from black history included, along with works of art and The Harlem Renaissance. I cannot recommend this one enough.

Fascinating story of an Afro–Puerto Rican man who was told as a young boy that black people had done nothing, and so there was no history about them.

So, he set out to prove them wrong. He spent his entire life researching books and rare manuscripts about Black people in the Americas, and what they did.

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His whole house was a collection of these books until he ran out of room, and sold the collection sot hat it could be housed in the Harlem branch of the New York City Library.

This is a text heavy picture book, of some of the people he found information on.

He did this work during the Harlem Renaissance, and it makes me wish that this book was a little bit more about his life, and the famous people he met in Harlem, though his research of the Black people in history is interesting as well.

A good book to add to any library.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.