Schomburg

Ron Butler solidly performs this free-verse biography of Arthur Schomburg, a historian and important collector of African-American historical documents. A great deal of care has been invested in the production. Instead of Eric Velazquez's beautiful illustrations, which accompany the printed book, the producers selected musical themes to set the mood and depict the time period and subject matter. The music also helps to shift the tone between sections--but it's used at other points as well, sometimes masking the transition to a new topic. Occasionally, the music swells to suggest triumph and overcomes the steady narration, but, overall, this is a worthy effort to bring the story of Schomburg's life and work to listeners. D.L.Y. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine