“My granny is taking me on THE WALK.” The young Black narrator of this story doesn’t know where “the walk” will lead, but her granny clearly has a destination in mind. Along their journey, she and her Granny are joined by other “treasured souls” in their diverse, predominantly Black neighborhood, some recalling other walks they’ve taken. More and more people join them. “The walking wasn’t always this long … But folks keep making it longer. They don’t want us to say what we have to say. That’s why we have to show up, show out, and show them,” Granny explains as they arrive at the girl’s school. When the girl points out that there isn’t school that day, Granny tells her, “School is always in session, baby. And today, the lesson is for the community … a big test we cannot miss. … WE’RE VOTING.” A welcome contemporary story about the importance and responsibility of voting buzzes with anticipation while conveying an underlying sense of urgency, including around challenges to voting rights. The watercolor illustrations shines with hopeful faces and the warmth of community. (Ages 5-9)

From award-winning creators Winsome Bingham and E.B. Lewis, The Walk (A Stroll to the Poll) is a powerful, full-color picture book story celebrating a journey crucial to our democracy: the walk to vote—a perfect read aloud.

My granny is taking me on THE WALK.
“Because leaders are not born,” she says. “They’re made through molding and modeling.”
“What’s the walk?” I ask.
“You’ll see. And there’s a few treasured souls coming too.”

Granny and her granddaughter are going on a walk. But this is not just any walk. It’s a walk that must not be missed; one that is more important than ever but has been made increasingly difficult for many to participate in. It’s a walk that joins together a community; that lifts voices; that allows us to speak up, stand up, and say what’s on our minds. It’s a walk for hope.

Where are all these treasured souls going? Just WALK ON and find out.