Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing [Hardcover]

James Weldon Johnson (Author), Jan Spivey Gilchrist (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1995 | Age Level: 7 and up

The lyrics to what has been called the African-American national anthem, as written by a turn-of-the-century civil-rights leader and poet, are combined with the illustrations of a two-time Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From the title page, on which clouds part to show the face of a weeping black woman whose tears splash into the sea, Gilchrist's (Nathaniel Talking; Night on Neighborhood Street) colored pencil, gouache and watercolor art is as emotion-charged as the lyrics of what is widely considered the African American national anthem. African American children and adults in contemporary clothing are portrayed alongside Africans in traditional dress; they appear against dramatic, sometimes foreboding backgrounds featuring such dynamic forces of nature as a stormy sea, swirling wind and the glowing moon. Gilchrist imports political and religious images (white-sheeted figures burning a bleeding cross, children soaring into the heavens) to convey both the song's sadness ("Stony the road we trod,/ Bitter the chast'ning rod") as well as its ultimate hope ("Out from the gloomy past./ Till now we stand at last/ Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast"). The lyrics, written by African American statesman and educator Johnson (1871-1938), are reprinted together with the music scored by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, at the conclusion of this heady volume. All ages.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4-9. Interpreting the moving anthem "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," this picture book offers illustrations inspired by the hymn yet not bound by a literal interpretation of the words. Combining colored pencil, gouache, and watercolor, the impressionistic artwork embodies the spirit of the music and the feelings of those who sing it. A series of free-form images show black people in Africa, in slavery, in modern times, and, ultimately, timeless. These adults and children are not just free in their temporal lives, but in their spirits: there are people enduring darkness and storms, springing from the sea, and soaring through the air. By illustrating not just the words, but also the grace and strength of the music and the emotions that this song stirs in singers and listeners, Gilchrist offers artwork that goes beyond visual representation to make a personal statement, "full of faith . . . full of hope." Music and lyrics are appended on the last double-page spread, followed by the artist's note. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Scholastic (January 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590469827
• ISBN-13: 978-0590469821
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,566,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.