Political revolutionaries change society—and so do booksellers. The Book Itch (Carolrhoda, $17.99), the latest collaboration between author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrator R. Gregory Christie (No Crystal Stair), highlights the power of books through the history of the National Memorial African Bookstore. Nelson’s great-uncle, Lewis Michaux, Sr., opened the shop in 1930s Harlem. Narrated in the voice of Lewis Michaux, Jr., the text captures the elder Michaux’s charisma, wit, and vehement belief in the value and possibility of words. Christie’s complex illustrations reveal the emotions of the store’s clientele, from everyday bookworms to Malcolm X, and contrast the intimate joy of reading with the pain and sorrow of Malcom X’s assassination. At once personal and historical, this picture book creates a sense of place and people that will leave readers with a hunger for more. Ages 7-10