On Friday afternoon, several of us from the office went over to Frugal Bookstore (where I’d never been before. If you’re in the Boston area, go!) and got to hear Oge Mora read from The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read (Schwartz & Wade/Random), written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Mora. In addition to sharing Mary Walker’s incredible story (she began learning to read when she was 114 years old!), Mora told us about her collage process, as well as her thought process behind some of the elements in the illustrations. She even gave us a glimpse at some of the original artwork.

Mora talked about how Walker's story was emblematic, to her, of African American perseverance and persistence -- a message that struck home during Black History Month and in Boston's only Black-owned bookstore. For more, read "A Family Affair: Connecting Community to Books" by Horn Book reviewers Monique Harris and Nicholl Montgomery and browse the tag Black History Month.