Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library

The remarkable life and achievements of the Afro-Puerto Rican scholar, collector and curator Arturo Schomburg have ideal chroniclers in Weatherford (‘Freedom in Congo Square’) and Velasquez (‘Grandma’s Gift’).—New York Times Book ReviewAll of the book’s details paint Schomburg as an admirable, flawed, likable, passionate man whose lasting legacy, Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, opens its doors to all who would learn more about the people its founder knew had been left out of the written record. A must-read for a deeper understanding of a well-connected genius who enriched the cultural road map for African-Americans and books about them.—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)Lifelong bibliophile Arturo Schomburg would be pleased by Weatherford’s prose-poem biography, which praises his passion for researching and collecting books, manuscripts, and other written materials relating black heritage and history…As with her previous book Voice of Freedom (2015), Weatherford illuminates a person well worth knowing. A rich book to add to all collections.—Booklist (starred review)Through text and art, Weatherford and Velasquez craft a winning portrait of both collector and his collection…Schomburg’s collection was donated to the New York Public Library and now boasts over 10 million items. This excellent work of history illuminates Schomburg and his legendary collection for a new generation—it belongs in all public and school libraries.—School Library Journal (starred review)In graceful free verse, Weatherford delivers a remarkable tribute to Arturo Schomburg…Schomburg’s ambitions, scholarship, and accomplishments were tremendous—“There was no field of human endeavor/ that he did not till with his determined hand”—and Weatherford and Velasquez more than do justice to them.—Publishers Weekly (starred review)With great respect to the man’s riveting life story, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honors author Carole Boston Weatherford relates through narrative poetry the story of Afro-Puerto Rican immigrant Arturo Schomburg. While each poem in Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library can stand alone as a single snapshot in the literary life of Schomburg, Weatherford’s portrayal of the bibliophilic law clerk is so wondrous, readers won’t be able to resist turning the pages to learn more.—Shelf Awareness for Readers (starred review)Velasquez’s richly detailed oil paintings aptly capture Schomburg’s zeal for learning and for teaching others…A must-read about a bibliophile extraordinaire.—Horn BookThe richness and succinctness of Weatherford’s prose and Valesquez’s vibrant art indicate to readers how much more there is to black history if they only started digging for themselves.—HuffPostCarole Boston Weatherford’s descriptions and Eric Velasquez’s illustrations make clear how tirelessly Schomburg searched for books, pamphlets and art that could ‘tell our stories, proclaim our glories’…Although he died about 80 years ago, his library in New York City is a national historic landmark, as big and bustling as ever.—Washington PostIn a series of twenty poems, Weatherford offers readers a biography of the life and work of Arturo Schomburg (1874-1938)…Velasquez’s expressive oil paintings capture the time period beautifully.—Literacy DailyA picture book of incredible poems…Hallelujah!—Toledo Blade

Carole Boston Weatherford, a New York Times best-selling author and poet, was named the 2025 Children’s Literature Legacy Award winner. She was also named the 2019 Washington Post Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award winner. Her numerous books for children include the Newbery Honor Book Box: Henry Box Brown Mails Himself to Freedom, illustrated by Michele Wood; the Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, illustrated by Floyd Cooper; the Robert F. Sibert Honor Book Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, illustrated by Ekua Holmes; and the critically acclaimed Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library and Outspoken: Paul Robeson, Ahead of His Time, both illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Carole Boston Weatherford lives in Maryland.

Eric Velasquez is the illustrator of numerous books for children, including several previous collaborations with Carole Boston Weatherford. He won the John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award for his illustrations of The Piano Man, written by Debbi Chocolate. Eric Velasquez is also the author-illustrator of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award–winning Grandma’s Gift. Born in Harlem, he lives and works in Hartsdale, New York.