Cumbayah - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688135439 ISBN 13: 9780688135430

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1998

Synopsis

"Cumbayah" is an enduring campfire song for children and a source of inspiration for adults. Though its roots are in the African-American tradition, it speaks to people of many different cultures, ages, and religious. With power and grace, Floyd Cooper depicts scenes from everyday life that emphasize how people all over the world are united in spirit. Here is an uplifting book that, with its simple lyrics, can also help teach children to read and sing. A historical note and a musical arrangement are included.

About this title

About the Author:

public domain in law, legal availability for public use, free of charge, of materials, processes, devices, skills, and plans that are not protected by copyright or patent, including those on which copyright or patent has lapsed.
source: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2001-05 Columbia University Press.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 3AThis book combines the simple verses of this well-known spiritual with Cooper's glowing illustrations to tell a global tale far beyond the words. The pictures, oil wash on illustration board, begin with a circle of children sitting cross legged, joining hands, and singing the first verse. Each subsequent stanza is illustrated with page-encompassing paintings that show children and adults from around the world. (However, none of these places are identified in the book.) Youngsters are shown sleeping under trees; fishermen work throwing their nets; for the verse, "Someone's hurting, Lord" a child is shown covering his face as he crouches in hiding while bombs fly in the background; and a seemingly homeless pair sit in a doorway, illustrating the words, "Someone needs you, Lord." Many of the pictures have a circular flow to them as objects curve around the characters: a fishing net hovers in a semicircle over the fishermen. Children sleep beside trees whose trunks curve around them. The final line, "Oh Lord, Cumbayah" shows another group of children raising colorful banners above their heads. The book concludes with the words and music for the song. Although beautifully done, this is a message-laden book that will be useful, to be sure, for adults to teach children about tolerance and differences among peoples as well as similarities.AJane Marino, Scarsdale Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0688135439
• ISBN 13: 9780688135430
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Floyd Cooper