Carrimebac, the Town That Walked

January 31, 2022
A century after 1776, Rootilla Redgums (“older than... Georgia’s bright-red dirt”) and her “peculiar” nine-year-old grandson, Julius, turn racially segregated Georgia upside down. While Julius befriends a magical local duck called Woody, Rootilla teaches Walkerton’s Black residents to “weave rugs that never wore down” and “bake ceramic jugs that never emptied,” drawing interest from people in nearby white towns who previously refused to do business in Walkerton. But when some of those “Fearful” white residents react violently, “wearing white sheets and bearing blazing torches,” and Rootilla dies on her 100th birthday after facing them, young Julius takes action to carry her “back to where I was born.” He carves a post, soon etched with the word “Carrimebac” and the names of Walkerton’s people, and connects it to Woody, who carries Walkerton to “where from all of us come. Back home,” leaving a lake in its place. Holyfield’s (Hammering for Freedom) bold, painterly illustrations use skewed scale and perspective to add drama and motion to each spread, while Barclay Moore’s (The Stars Beneath Our Feet) realistic account of anti-Black racism is imbued reassuringly with the supernatural as a means of a Black community’s enduring and escaping oppression. Ages 6–9.

February 1, 2022
A town of prospering Black folks magically uproots itself. When Rootilla Redgums, who claims to be nearly 100 years old, moves to Walkerton, Georgia, with her 9-year-old, old soul of a grandson, Julius Jefferson, her wizened appearance and powerful aura cause a stir among the townspeople. They aren't quite sure what to make of the odd pair, but Rootilla soon wins them over. She teaches them to make homemade goods that draw White buyers from the surrounding towns, and Walkerton, once full of misery, begins to thrive. Rootilla's handiworks possess unique powers--they are carpets that never wear down, jugs that never empty, and walking sticks "that somehow never got you lost in the woods." Convinced that Walkerton's Black residents are practicing witchcraft, a mob of White people attack but are no match for Rootilla's magic. At her behest, the town--which Julius renames Carrimebac--is literally carried away, leaving only a lake to mark where Walkerton once stood. Each page turn brings fresh delights via the engaging acrylic paintings that create drama through the use of various perspectives. On some spreads, characters look directly at the viewer, as if inviting interaction. While the premise is compelling, the narrative is not cohesive; some character connections are confusing, and the use of the euphemism "Fearful Folks" to refer to white-hooded, torch-bearing figures emphasizes their unfounded fears of Black folks instead of the terror they inflict because of their hate. A tall tale that doesn't quite measure up. (Picture book/folktale. 6-9)

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April 1, 2022
Grades 1-3 In a folksy original yarn with distinct echoes of The People Could Fly, John Steptoe New Talent Award winner Moore describes how Walkerton, a post-Civil War Georgia town of Black folk escaped an attack of white, hooded "Fearful Folk," thanks to a surprisingly capable duck. That duck, named Woody, belongs to young Julius, the "peculiar grandson" of magic worker Rootilla Redgums. When a white neighbor claims Woody was stolen and gathers a torch-bearing mob, Julius makes a carved pole engraved with the legend "Carrimebac," ties Woody to it, and commands him to "Walk!" So off Woody waddles, dragging the entire small town of Walkerton behind, across Liberty County to the sea. Holyfield's warm, richly detailed country settings give way to aerial views of the town gliding grandly through grassy woodlands and salt marshes. Today, writes the author, only a lake marks the original site. If readers beguiled by the arresting premise wonder what happened to the town after it sailed across the ocean, well: "Some other time, perhaps . . ."

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Starred review from May 1, 2022

Gr 2-5-Merging history and magic, this is a tale like no other. When Rootilla Redgums and her grandson, Julius Jefferson, arrive in Walkerton, GA, in 1875, the Black townsfolk have no idea what's to come. Using Rootilla's magic, the town flourishes. This upset and angers their neighbors, who are white. Dressed in white sheets, the neighbors attempt to scare off the good people of Walkerton. Rootilla sends them off, but passes away that same night, after asking Julius to carry her back to where she was born. Making good on his promise to her, and with the threat of the fearful white folks on their heels, Julius carves a sign engraved with "Carrimebac." With a rope tied around his magical pet duck, they pull the entire town across the ground, into the water, never to be seen again, leaving a lake where Walkerton once was. Although the ending leaves room for more of the story, it still closes in a satisfying way. Despite some strong and frightening scenes (yes, that is the KKK), this tale is full of whimsy and wordplay, and is an excellent read-aloud. The illustrations, done with paint on canvas, beautifully complement the storytelling voice. Using the angle of the light, magic becomes visible to the reader. VERDICT These heroics read like a classic folktale. With delightful text, and beautiful artwork, it is one not be skipped.-Sarah West

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