All Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African-American Spirituals - Hardcover

Bryan, Ashley; Thomas, David Manning

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689316623 ISBN 13: 9780689316623

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1991

Synopsis

Raise your voice with this musical illustrated songbook of traditional African American spirituals including instructions for piano accompaniment and guitar chords.

Many songs performed at churches, schools, camps, or clubs are African American spirituals. This lively and inspirational picture book shines a light on twenty of the thousand songs that have been collected since the Civil War, including “All Night, All Day,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

About this title

About the Author

Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 6-- Bryan has certainly let his little light shine in this selection of 20 well-known spirituals, none of which appear in his Walk Together Children (Aladdin, 1981) or I'm Going to Sing (Atheneum, 1982; o.p.). Whereas the earlier books provided only the melody, David Manning Thomas's arrangements in this collection include full piano scores and guitar chords; the piano accompaniments are simple enough to be performed by amateur pianists, but are sufficiently challenging to remain interesting, with pleasing and appropriate harmonies. The stylized watercolor paintings, dominated by pinks, blues, and yellows, glow with the faith and hope of the songs they illustrate. From Peter ringing the bells, to Noah opening the window for the dove, to the ships sailing over on the river of Jordan, these illustrations are dynamic and full of movement, and the people and angels radiate an unearthly light. The songs leap off the page, demanding to be played and sung. --Susan Giffard, Englewood Public Library, NJ
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Twenty splendid examples of spirituals are provided with simple arrangements by David Manning Thomas (guitar chords also included). Bryan's resplendent paintings fill textless double spreads that alternate with the unembellished pages of music. Visual celebrations rather than literal illustrations, they merge the representational with the purely decorative--the swirling, stylized waters of the Jordan, for example, contrasting with the faceted geometric patterns of the ships sailing on it. Bryan's palette is light but intense, like sun through brightly colored tissue paper; his figures are graced with dignity and inner serenity. A truly beautiful book, worthy of the wonderful music it showcases. Note on the spirituals. (Nonfiction. 4+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0689316623
• ISBN 13: 9780689316623
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48