Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples

Staples and Boston Weatherford collaborate to recount the extraordinary musical life of Mavis Staples (b. 1939). Raised in a strict household rooted in faith, Staples began singing gospel music alongside family at her uncle’s church. Pages that reference tunes (“Freedom Highway”) encompass the family’s performances at various churches, beside Martin Luther King Jr., and at the Apollo, alongside the challenges of racist policies on the road, and eventual success in Hollywood. Staples’s love for her hometown Chicago and gospel music and dedication to civil rights recur throughout the book, while Walthall’s illustrations, employing portraiture and era-specific images, complement the direct narrative. Back matter includes recommended listening and viewing, and a timeline. Ages 6–9. (July)