Zora, the Story Keeper

Starred review from July 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 1-Zora wants to be like Aunt Bea when she grows up. A gifted storyteller with a trunk of costumes, Aunt Bea tells the best stories about their family members as she throws on the costumes and uses funny voices. There's Grandma Jean who used to coach a swim team and Grandpa Tom who was a preacher. Zora and Aunt Bea turn the kitchen into a stage as they act out these stories from the past. When Aunt Bea starts needing to rest more and is not telling the stories as well, Zora begins to worry. It'll be okay. Even after Aunt Bea passes on, Zora knows she's been well-equipped to carry on the tradition. This book is a poignant reminder to readers that though the people they love will die, they will live on in stories. In addition to the vibrantly illustrated pages, there are also photographs from the author's and illustrator's lives interspersed throughout. Black characters of varied skin tones and hair textures grace the picture book's pages. VERDICT A family's stories pass down to the next generation of story keepers in this beautifully illustrated work that's a must-purchase for picture book collections.-Myiesha Speight

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2023
When Aunt Bea can no longer tell stories, young Zora becomes the new storykeeper. Zora loves hearing family stories from Aunt Bea, who taught acting and uses her theatrical skills, including costumes, to evoke various relatives. Through the family book filled with photographs, names, and dates, combined with Aunt Bea's storytelling, Zora learns about Grandma Jean's swim coaching days and Grandpa Tom's preaching. Zora's page is near the end of the book, and Zora wonders which parts of her life Aunt Bea will focus on. When Aunt Bea becomes weak, her storytelling suffers, and Zora helps her with the stories. Before they reach Zora's pages in the book, Aunt Bea dies. But she has left Zora the book, with Zora's role named on her pages and an envelope of photographs to add to the book, including ones that tell a story of Aunt Bea's life. This deeply moving tale of family history and connections, loss, memory, and legacy offers a beautiful way to talk to children about the contributions people make during their time on this Earth and is a striking representation of a Black family full of ordinary and outstanding people. Every word of Wilkins' text is well chosen, and Coulter's stunning, emotional art, a unique combination of photographs and mixed media, is a memorable visual depiction of a range of tender moments. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Powerfully immersive. (Picture book. 4-10)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 4, 2023
A child named Zora recounts their adventures with Aunt Bea, “the best storyteller I know,” in this moving picture book. A former acting teacher, Aunt Bea dresses up to perform stories, including those about relatives written in the “family book.” Textured images contrast Aunt Bea’s entertaining costumed performances, in full color, with sepia-tone scenes of the duo’s family; Aunt Bea wears a swim cap to act out Grandma Jean’s time as a swim coach, and dabs her forehead while pantomiming Grandpa Tom’s sermons. Sometimes Zora joins Aunt Bea, making the kitchen a stage. Zora wonders what Aunt Bea will write on Zora’s page, a question that goes unanswered when Aunt Bea becomes sick, then dies. At a family celebration of Bea’s life, Zora is given the family book and an envelope of photos of Zora and Aunt Bea together. On one page is written “Zora, the Story Keeper”—alongside plenty of room for Zora to tell Aunt Bea’s story, and others. Wilkins (If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad) and Coulter (An American Story) create a tender, smartly constructed tribute to love, storytelling, and family history. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group. Illustrator’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content.

November 10, 2023
Preschool-Grade 3 A young Black child named Zora looks up to her aunt Bea, the best storyteller she knows. Every day after school, Aunt Bea reads from their family book and shares stories of their family members, bringing tales of swim coaches, preachers, and fighter pilots to vibrant life. But as time goes on, Aunt Bea becomes tired and weak, is taken to the hospital, and eventually passes away. At a celebration of Aunt Bea's life, Zora's uncle gives her the family book and an envelope full of photos. Zora creates a page for Aunt Bea and carries on their family's legacy through the story-keeping tradition. Family photos throughout the story are from the author's and illustrator's lives and are interspersed in eye-catching mixed-media illustrations. The gouache-style digital art uses expressive faces and body language to capture the mood and energy of each scene. The use of color contrasts the bright present day against the sepia tones of the past. A moving representation of a Black family, grief, and the tradition of storytelling.

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