Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer

by Quartez Harris, Gordon C. James (Illustrator)

Discover the story of young James Baldwin in this ode to the legendary writer and the power of the written word—with exquisite prose from acclaimed poet Quartez Harris, and breathtaking illustrations from New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Honoree Gordon C. James.

The first time Jimmy read a book the words clung to him like glitter...

Before James Baldwin was a celebrated novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and activist, he was a boy who fell in love with stories. Words opened up new worlds for young Jimmy, who read and wrote at every opportunity. He ultimately realized his dreams of becoming an author and giving voice to his community, and in doing so he showed the world the fullness of Black American life.

This picture book biography of an American icon is a poetic introduction to James Baldwin and celebration of the power of language. Additional biographical information and personal notes from the author and illustrator round out this stunning celebration of Baldwin's life and work.

★ Lyrical, accessible true story of an American icon, with bonus information at the back of the book
★ Beautiful, vibrant art from Gordon C. James, two-time winner of the Kirkus Prize, a Caldecott honoree, and Coretta Scott King honoree, and Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist!
★ Celebrates the power of reading, hard work, and following your dreams

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Writing, Childrens, LGBT

40 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2025

About the author

Residing in Cleveland, Ohio, Harris is a second-grade teacher at Michael R. White Elementary School. We Made It to School Alive, his second collection of poetry, was inspired by his work as a teacher and gives voice to the experiences of the children he works with every day who deal with issues of gun violence, poverty, educational challenges, and more.

Harris’ first book, Nothing, But Skin, was published in 2014 by Writing Knights Press. He is the first recipient of the Barbara Smith Writer-In-Resident at Twelve Literary Arts and a 2020 Baldwin House Fellow. He has been featured in the Plain Dealer, IdeaStream, and City Club of Cleveland, and recently signed on to be represented by Mckinnon Literary Agency. His works in progress are a young-adult novel and picture book biography. Learn more at quartezharris.com.

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Gorgeous illustrations! A lovely book for young readers to learn about one of the finest, and often overlooked, writers of 20th century American Literature.

[Mariana Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

childrens lit and related materials:

james baldwin project!

i thought this book was beautifully illustrated and written — i really loved how Harris and James paint this picture of Baldwin and the words speaking to him. it is quite a powerful image! where this book fell short for me is its timeline + lack of dates — or any context about his sexuality!! james baldwin was a proud queer man and this book erases his identity entirely. i did appreciate that this book was more honest about baldwin’s relationship with his stepfather and the church, and how he battled against this. and it was honest about the police brutality he faced, versus the other biography that didnt openly say they beat him. I think saying this is critical.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.
I loved imagery of the words and that imagery was beautifully displayed in the illustrations.
-the words clung to him like glitter.
-Jimmy realized that writing words could heal.
-The stroke of his pencil turned a new page and brought him to one of the best schools in New York City a Dream catcher that gave birth to famous people.
-His mom‘s love flowed through him like a river of ribbons.
-On that mountain top, he found a clearer view of himself and of the world. He struck keys to heal his heart. His words spilled out of his typewriter and across the sky.
-then he pounded his typewriter like an organ thundering from a storefront church
-And at last, he played his typewriter like a piano, love songs to his mother and lullabies for his sisters and brothers.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lyrical biography of James Baldwin's from his childhood to the publication of his first novel. There's a page towards the end where the writing seemed like music playing. Wonderful illustrations, more information about Baldwin's life, and notes from the author and the illustration can be found in the back of the book.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful! A gorgeous ode to James Baldwin with exquisite art.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful words and imagery and especially meaningful after reading his first novel Go Tell it on the Mountain. I didn’t know why Baldwin chose this title, now I do after reading this book!

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetically written picture book biography of James Baldwin. The book focuses on Baldwin's childhood and young adulthood--through the publication of Go Tell It On The Mountain. While Go Tell It is clear and forthright about the racism Baldwin experienced, it unfortunately uses such vague language to talk about Baldwin's gayness that only readers who already know Baldwin was gay might be able to read between the lines and get what's being talked about. An unfortunate cloaking of this important part of Baldwin's life! I would recommend adult readers clarify what is being talked about when this part comes up AND discuss what it means and how it makes the young reader feel that queerness is being talked about in such a coded way. Otherwise a solid read.

Themes: Black History, Gay History, Writers, Social Justice
Age range: Early elementary

[Andrew Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently selected Quartez Harris and Gordon C. James’s Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer (2025) for a read aloud on the strength of its artwork as a non-fiction picture book. For classroom use, teachers might consider the book as an anchor text in a writer’s workshop unit, as an introduction to the author if reading his work in class, or as a standalone profile of a Black author. The book is the story of James Baldwin’s life growing up in Harlem, the adversities he overcame, and his path to publishing his first novels.

I began the read aloud by showing my audience the book cover and asking them what they thought the book was about. I frequently use the see-think-wonder protocol (a primary-source analysis tool I got from a Library of Congress-sponsored training) for looking at photographs or visual art in the classroom. Asking my audience to compare what they saw on the front cover (a closeup of young black man dressed in a red sweater and white collared shirt standing on a street holding a pencil against a backdrop of brownstones under a sky filled with snow-capped peaks) with what they saw on the back cover (the same figure seated and working at a typewriter, out of which words seep into the air like vapors) helped them deduce that the story might be about how this young man becomes a writer.

The art in this book is sumptuous: The artist does not spare the paint. One could eat it and lick the spoon. The oil on boards are mostly symmetrical to the story but provide emotional enhancement.

Case in point: During the reading, I even got a “woah” on a certain page turn when I asked my audience to look at the colors in the scene in which James Baldwin is beaten by white police officers wearing blue uniforms and imagine the way images blur when one’s eyes water; from the art on the next page, the audience could deduce the emotional state of protagonist in the blue, red, and hazy impressionistic landscape view of the protagonist on a mountain in Central Park. The text reads, “Behind the tears, he felt the same anger…”

This book is worth a read.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOTE: Reviewed from a F&G from the publisher.

When growing up, James Baldwin was a reader. Though his mother encouraged him to read, his stepfather, a preacher, felt the only book that should be read was the Bible. Words were so important to him that after he was beaten up by local police that he realized words could heal and worked to become a writer.

Harris' text is powerful. Non-judgemental, he pulls no punches as he describes the suppression Baldwin faced from his stepfather and local police and how he found his comfort when writing. Readers will feel for this young man and cheer him on as he follows his path of truth. He covers the highlights of Baldwin's life, from his youth to the publication of his first book. Backmatter includes a brief bio about James Baldwin (including a statement about him as a "queer", loving both men and women) and his importance in American literature, an author's note, a note from the artist (unseen), and a list of selected sources used in research.

Oil on board illustrations by Gordon C. James are stunning in their brilliance and movement. He has captured the gap-toothed Baldwin's wide range of emotions that Baldwin probably felt at different points in life: his fear when confronted by his stepfather for reading books other than the Bible and the police for playing in the streets, his determination and joy at finding new words in the streets of Harlem, and his self-confidence when moving to France to write his first book.

The only thing I feel is lacking is a timeline of Baldwin's life. The text does not give dates to give the reader context of the time period events took place. (I rounded up a 4.5 star to 5.)

Baldwin is a huge figure during the Harlem Renaissance time period in American Literature. Children should know his name, if not his works (though he did write one book for children).

Useful for grades 4-6 and those wanting to learn more about luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a powerful and poetic picture-book bio of James Baldwin, one of the literary giants of the Twentieth Century, who was also a gifted speaker, visionary humanitarian, and outspoken gay rights activist. The story touches on the primary shaping forces in Baldwin’s life up until the publication of his first novel (Go Tell It on the Mountain, which launched his stellar literary career), particularly the role of reading and the importance of public libraries during his formative years, which were both a refuge for the budding artist. The stunning illustrations, painted with such verve and poignancy, evoke the essence of Baldwin’s colorful and charismatic life.

However, unlike Baldwin, who openly wrote about his homosexuality in his novel Giovanni’s Room, Harris fails to address this key aspect of Baldwin’s life in the story, perhaps fearing that a publisher wouldn’t print the book or that the book would be banned from school and public libraries. Though Harris does mention Baldwin’s sexuality in a brief essay entitled “More About James Baldwin” in the end pages, this glaring omission would suggest that “humanizing queer relationships,” as Harris puts it, is a theme that does not belong in children’s picture books. What a cop out for such a moving story about personal emancipation.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story sings if from the mountain top. Oh, the beautiful words fill these pages. It's lovely how it's told. Now, I want to read something by James. I never had and I should.

The back material discusses his Giovanni's Room which is a love story between two men. I think I need to read that. James himself was Bi.

He grew up in 1920's Harlem. That was a tough time. He read while taking care of his siblings. His stepfather was a fire and brimstone preacher. I don't think he got along well with James. James loved reading and his stepfather thought the only book to read was the bible. To think all life can be contained in one story - silly.

James eventually made it to Paris where several Black artists of the day ended up, I noticed due to the acceptance they had. He wrote his first novel there. I would like to read that one as well.

The artwork is stunning. They are oil. I love seeing the words like like glitter sticking too him. Great story.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous picture book biography about the author James Baldwin's childhood, telling in lyrical prose how he fell in love with reading and the "words clung to him like glitter." Reading sustained him throughout his childhood in a large family of little means, through racist incidents and the disapproval of his preacher stepfather who felt he should only be reading the Bible. When he was old enough to leave home, Baldwin worked many jobs and made his way to France, where he put all of his background and inspiration together to write his first novel and use his words to heal himself. The oil paintings illustrating this book are fantastic-- words are incorporated into them everywhere, visually symbolizing Baldwin's reading and sponging up knowledge and inspiration. Author's note gives full timeline of Baldwin's life and other details not in the story. Lovely book to inspire kids to become writers. Ohio author.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The language used to tell James Baldwin's story jumped off the page. Glittered even. Such a remarkable story for a remarkable human being overcoming so much adversity. "Everything he saw in Harlem exploded into words--jump ropes sparking letters as they struck the sky, swings slinging stories in the air, children leaping from stoops and landing on sentences, folks staring out of dust-stained windows and witnessing all the words in the ragged streets." Gordon James's illustrations bring the story alive as only a true master illustrator can. This story that needs to be told is well represented by this beautiful work.

I think it would be best placed in a picture book section of narrative nonfiction where elementary kids would pick it up not knowing anything about the James Baldwin and finding themselves compelled to read more narrative nonfiction about famous black authors.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

You become a writer likely because you're a reader and that's exactly how James Baldwin came to be the famous writer and orator and thinker of our time. This is a picture book dedicated to his love of words even when his stepdad and discrimination wanted to beat it or squeeze it out of him, but Baldwin had his eyes on the prize- even moving abroad to help him clear his path.

The oil painting on wood is vivid and dreamy and brings out the story.

It also makes me want to reread Giovanni's Room which I adored when I read it a long time ago. I also want to read his one book for children he wrote Little Man, Little Man: A Story of Childhood. And I was fascinated to learn in the backmatter that when he died in 1987 at his home in France he was in the middle of writing a book called Remember This House about the assassination of Evers, Malcolm X, and King.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is stunning to see as Gordon C. James masterfully infuses feelings with color, racism with flourish, and Harlem with magic. My favorite spread that so deeply connects me back to my literature class where I first read Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain is the streets he grew up on littered with positivity and love. The words by Harris are so loving and kind and beautifully show how James Baldwin contrasted his Fire and Brimstone preacher father.

Sadly, I cannot think of how I can justify a biography of an author in school library where my collection needs to reflect our curriculum. I doubt my students will know of Mr. Baldwin. I will encourage my art teacher to check out the book, though. James' work is exhilarating.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know much about James Baldwin before reading this book, so I really enjoyed this short biography/picture book just on that level. But the best part was how he turned to words.

The development of him as a writer is so true and accurate for many people who write for a living (myself included) so these illustrations and the words which surrounded him feels at once familiar and interesting. Familiar because words were like that with me too. Interesting because the kinds of words which he thought about were very different from mine.

This is a great book to not only teach something, but to also inspire creativity in your child. I'd highly recommend this on both levels. Very well done!

[mg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The omission of James Baldwin's sexuality is both an insult to Mr. Baldwin and the intelligence of the children who would read this book. And no, stating "his boundless love for his new friends would be met with shame," does not make it clear that he was gay. If you can overtly talk about and illustrate an act of hate like the cops beating Jimmy as a child, you can celebrate the way that he loved, too. While I appreciate that it's discussed in the back matter, it needs to be in the actual narrative itself.

Which is a shame, because it's an otherwise lovely book with fabulous illustrations.

[Abbigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if it's because I read I Got You by Derrick Barnes right before reading this picture book biography, but I was on the verge of tears the whole time I read it: a love letter to NYC, the power of books and language, what church could be vs. what it is, family, finding yourself, etc. -- this book goes so hard. The illustrations are sometimes abstract (I sometimes don't like this style in picture books but I think in this book they were pretty striking), paired with the longer text, this is a great introduction for older kids, even upper middle school or high school, to a classic American writer.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely introduction to the amazing and impactful life of James Baldwin! Growing up in 1970s Texas, I was never introduced to James Baldwin. Or any other Black authors... That changed when I took a class in Black Literature at George Mason University in the 1990s. To remedy this oversight, Mr. Harris has created this lyrical account of James Baldwin's life for young readers.
With beautiful illustrations, this book should easily captivate elementary and middle school readers.
There are notes at the end of the book from both the author and the illustrator.

[Summer D Clemenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Baldwin was born in Harlem, New York on August 2, 1924. Go Tell it How James Baldwin Became a Writer by Quartez Harris is an empowering memoir about how James Baldwin used art to speak for Black and LGBTQIA+ people and Civil Rights. This children's nonfiction history picture book was brought to life by the art of Gordon C. James.

Baldwin loved words and he learned that words could heal. He used his words in writing and speaking for activism and teaching. This biography is both colorful and inspiring.

[Theo Scully · Rating 3 out of 5]

dances around the fact that James Baldwin was gay - "Still, Jimmy could sense that his boundless love toward his new friends would be met with shame. So when he went home, Jimmy had to hide the glitter of his new books and new friends, whom his stepfather saw as unchristian." - is followed by three sentences in the afterword about how he "felt romantic love towards both men and women"; doesn't discuss GIOVANNI'S ROOM, which is an integral queer work. :(

[Juliet Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a children's book leads me to something new. And this book has done exactly that!
I've learned about the writer James Baldwin through the very sensitive, thoughtful text of Quartez Harris and was struck by the beautiful art of Gordon C. James.

I have not read any of Baldwin's books, but that is about to change. I have put Giovanni's Room, along with Go Tell It On The Mountain, on my to-read list. All thanks to this nonfiction book for kids:)

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The painted illustrations here are *gorgeous*.

I feel like I've read multiple books recently that have started with this idea of absorbing words from all over.

Liked seeing the different aspects influencing Baldwin and how even in his preaching, following his stepfather, he was deeply different and with a different kind of message.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous book about James Baldwin. It's sad that he had such an angry stepfather (who was a preacher?!), but James seemed like such a gentle soul - even forgiving him once he went out on his own. Thank goodness he had a loving mother who encouraged him. This is a fantastic jumping off point for kids who are learning about James Baldwin.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This is the second recently published biography I have read about the writer James Baldwin. There were elements I liked about this book but it wasn't my favorite biography of him. I am grateful that this iconic author is being recognized and introduced to a new generation.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I know so much of the information included in this book, I absolutely LOVE that younger readers are introduced to the brilliance that is James Baldwin. Gordon C James included such beautiful illustrations to make the information, yet beautifully written words of Quartez Harris.

[Lesli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bordering on poetic, this picture book tells the story of James Baldwin's childhood and rise to become one of the best writers of the 20th century. But what really sets this book apart is the artwork - each page is rich with color and texture, worthy of being studied in museums.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive biography of Baldwin, imparts a love of language and the power of language. I loved the message that writing could heal. How love and hope are more important than anger. How hatred, frustration and fear need forgiveness.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

It would be an honor to have this in my future classroom library! Reminds me why I want to be an educator; knowledge is power and literacy is empowering.
(I'm also simply a huge fan of James Baldwin).

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, brilliant biography of James Baldwin!