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(1)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank Morrison.
This is a moving walk through African American history, via Weatherford's expansion of the lyrics of a well-known Negro spiritual and Morrison's powerful, imagistic art. In his distinctive illustrations, Morrison employs innovative perspectives and unusual visual compositions to encourage readers to make connections between historical events, while Weatherford's poetry, per the author's note, "integrat[es] historical and contemporary events that summoned courage and faith." The book's first, wordless double-page spread looks down on the bare back of an enslaved man emerging from the bowels of a slave ship, facing a white enslaver who holds a whip. From there, the book represents significant historical and contemporary Black heroes such as Nat Turner, Ruby Bridges, Florence Joyner, and Colin Kaepernick; it also portrays important eras such as the Harlem Renaissance, the civil rights movement, the Great Migration, and the Black Lives Matter movement. A richly illustrated, informative picture book that will leave readers humming and spark a desire to learn more.
Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2022
32 pp.
| Penguin/Paulsen
| August, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-51609-5$17.99
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Keith Mallett.
In 1900, "a girl learned a song" from her school principal, James Weldon Johnson (the poem's original author), for Lincoln's birthday. The song follows the girl's family through five generations, from the Great Migration to the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Through emotion-filled text and rich illustrations, readers derive a sense of the anthem's collective historical and cultural significance, and the deeply personal connections it carries.
Reviewer: Monique Harris
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2019
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Rafael López.
López has adapted the well-known spiritual to invoke a humanistic theme: "We've got everybody everywhere in our hands." His exuberant mixed-media illustrations include digital elements and convey the happiness of a diverse set of international children and animals frolicking in all kinds of environments. Musical notation appears at book's end. Also available in a bilingual English/Spanish edition.
40 pp.
| Millbrook
| September, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4677-8550-1$19.99
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Michele Wood.
Concept by Michele Wood. Thirteen spreads each focus on a famous spiritual and include interpretations and background information, the musical score, and an acrylic painting inspired by it; "some of the earliest recorded" lyrics to each are appended. Wood's powerful folk art is an excellent focal point for this useful introduction to the American slave experience and the resultant musical form. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos.
32 pp.
| AMMO
| September, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-6232-6059-0$17.95 Reissue (1966, Prentice)
(2)
K-3
Illustrated by
Ed Emberley.
Black woodcuts against bright solid-color pages--a different color for every page--picture images evoked by an old spiritual, building cumulative excitement in this Caldecott Honor book. The stunning visual experience will have an extra dimension if readers are familiar with the music. No source is given for the traditional song, though a musical score is appended.
(4)
YA
Lowinger relates the true story of how Ella Sheppard and the Jubilee Singers used African American spiritual music to save Fisk University. The narrative jumps between slave history; vignettes from Ella's life; and biographical information about Ella and the choir, whose individual personalities aren't very well fleshed out. Photos, illustrations, song lyrics, and maps are included. Reading list, timeline. Ind.
32 pp.
| Disney/Jump
| December, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4231-1954-8$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Vanessa Brantley-Newton.
A simple story explains how this rallying song for freedom became the watchword for the civil rights movement in the United States, and from there to countries around the world struggling with human rights issues. Lively digital and mixed-media illustrations convey a joyous mood. Although "No single day marks the birth of the song...", a timeline of highlights is included. Reading list, websites.
56 pp.
| Royal Swan/Alazar
| April, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-9793000-1-1$21.95 New ed. (1974, Atheneum)
(2)
PS
Bryan's seminal collections of slave songs and "sorrow songs" have been updated and beautifully redesigned with a new introduction by Bryan and foreword by Dr. Henrietta Smith. The covers are now in color; the books contain the same inspiring and culturally significant songs--"Go Tell It On the Mountain," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I See," and others--with musical notation and black-and-white woodcut art. This review covers these two titles: I'm Going to Sing: Black American Spirituals, Volume Two and Walk Together Children: Black American Spirituals, Volume One.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
December, 1974
56 pp.
| Royal Swan/Alazar
| April, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-9793000-2-8$21.95 New ed. (1982, Atheneum)
(2)
PS
Bryan's seminal collections of slave songs and "sorrow songs" have been updated and beautifully redesigned with a new introduction by Bryan and foreword by Dr. Henrietta Smith. The covers are now in color; the books contain the same inspiring and culturally significant songs--"Go Tell It On the Mountain," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I See," and others--with musical notation and black-and-white woodcut art. This review covers these two titles: I'm Going to Sing: Black American Spirituals, Volume Two and Walk Together Children: Black American Spirituals, Volume One.
Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
February, 1983
72 pp.
| Clarion
| January, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-547-18210-0$18.00
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Terrance Cummings.
Stotts describes the many iterations of the title song, from its origins as a slave spiritual and Christian hymn to adoption by labor organizers to its role as the anthem of the civil rights movement and beyond. Lyrics from other inspirational songs begin each new chapter. Archival photos and three-color illustrations reminiscent of labor posters reinforce Stotts's points. CD included. Bib., ind.
40 pp.
| Blue Apple
| October, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-1-934706-90-9$16.99
(4)
K-3
The text intersperses the lyrics of "This Little Light of Mine" with examples of how individual civil rights activists let their "light shine" ("Rosa Parks refused to move, / She let her light shine...Ruby Bridges walked alone. / She let her light shine"). Warm mixed-media illustrations have a retro-sixties appearance. The volume, though well meaning, is rather disjointed in presentation.
48 pp.
| Atheneum
| January, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-689-84732-5$16.99
(1)
4-6
Using only cut-paper and clamorous, swirling, out-of-sight colors, Bryan sets three spirituals to pictures that are dynamic, monumental, and stirring. Throughout, the imagery is brilliant. Bryan has long been known for his exuberant decorative motifs, but in this instance, with three sets of lyrics that are themselves all imagery, his scope widens. With words and music appended: exciting, absorbing, immensely moving.
Reviewer: Barbara Bader
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2007
32 pp.
| Simon
| March, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-689-86252-6$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Elisa Kleven.
Rhyming couplets describe a boy's experiences from morning ("Day begins, dawn breaks anew. / Sun wakes up, I wake up too") to nighttime, as his imagination takes him on a journey through the clouds. Throughout, myriad angels of various ethnicities (and species) watch over him. In this story based on a spiritual, Kleven's dreamy, textured full-page collages display the interconnectedness of creatures.
32 pp.
| Barefoot
| March, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-1-84686-043-0$16.99
(4)
K-3
Corr uses the lyrics of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" to proclaim a pro-environmental message. Gouache illustrations using simple shapes and bold colors show children around the world joyously interacting with the earth and nature. The more instructive (and didactic) appended text emphasizes the problem of global warming. Music and a CD of the spiritual are included.
116 pp.
| Candlewick
| March, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-2885-7$18.99
(4)
4-6
Giovanni begins by describing "The Journey" (Africans being forcibly taken to America) and ends with "Spirituals Today and Tomorrow." Most chapters give some history, then present a spiritual with accompanying analysis of the words. The author's personal passion for spirituals comes through, but her nonlinear approach and constantly shifting focus (history, biographical sketches, personal reflections) make the text scattered. Bib., ind.
32 pp.
| Simon
| January, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-689-83179-X$16.95
(4)
PS
Lewis illustrates the text of the traditional African-American spiritual with luminous watercolors that follow a young boy through his day in what appears to be the rural South. The boy invites another child to join a basketball game and helps him make new friends ("Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine"). The paintings are gorgeous if stiff; warm yellows make the book glow.
32 pp.
| Augsburg
| April, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-8066-4559-8$$8.99
(4)
PS
Sing-It! series.
Illustrated by
Fiona King.
A traditional German carol and an African-American spiritual have some of their lyrics slightly reworked and an additional stanza added to make the religious message totally clear for children. The illustrators interpret the lyrics literally; Tree is rendered with bright color, the art in Mountain resembles woodcuts. Appended to each are activities, the song in sign language, and the score. Review covers these Sing-It! titles: Go Tell It on the Mountain and O Christmas Tree.
86 pp.
| Clarion
| October, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-395-97829-7$$16.00
(2)
4-6
They sang together for just a few years following the Civil War, but Fisk University's Jubilee Singers achieved impressive results. This modest history of the group focuses on their role in establishing slave-era spirituals as a musical form popular in the United States and Europe. A small selection of illustrations and early photos is included. Cooper concludes with early texts and music for seven spirituals. Bib., ind.
Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2002
32 pp.
| Atheneum/Schwartz
| January, 1999
|
TradeISBN 0-689-81062-8$$16.00
(2)
1-3
Illustrated by
Raul Colon.
Founded for former slaves in 1866, Fisk School (now Fisk University) had to struggle to survive its early years. Hopkinson tells the fictionalized story of Ella Sheppard, pianist for the Jubilee Singers, who went on tour to raise money for their school and were instrumental in introducing spirituals to the world. Colón's illustrations capture the dignity of the Singers and the eloquence of their performance.