Singing America: Poems That Define a Nation [Hardcover]

Neil Philip (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995 | Age Level: 11 and up

to Langston Hughes's reply, ""I, too (am America),"" an anthology of verse about the many facets of the American experience ranges from poetry to Negro spirituals, from traditional anthems to Native American songs.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up?Philip has gathered American poetry that vividly comes together to "define a nation" in this eclectic anthology. The strength and clarity of McCurdy's woodcuts intensify that definition. Sandwiched between Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" and Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" are poems that give voice to immigrants, African Americans, Native Americans, the poor, migrant workers, miners, pioneers, and myriad others that make up this nation. There are oft-heard verses, but the less well-known works create the attraction here. The collection celebrates the contributions of different groups; relates the suffering inflicted by nature or one ethnic group on another; and just talks about a Sunday walk, or the wonders of ice cream and peaches. The uncluttered presentation allows for readers' absorption in each offering. There is ample opportunity for choral reading and reading aloud. The book's theme echoes that of America Forever New (Crowell, 1968; o.p.), compiled by Sara and John E. Brewton, but Philip goes beyond that title. A striking addition.?Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-12. Like Celebrate America: In Poetry and Art, edited by Nora Panzer (1994), this spaciously designed anthology brings together great poems that express the diversity of the American experience through history. In a fine introduction, Philip traces two dominant influences who broke with polite literary tradition and wrote with the urgency of the speaking voice: the very public Whitman (who encouraged poets "to speak up and speak out" ) and the very private Dickinson (for whom a poem was "perhaps, a message in a bottle" ). The selections show an American tradition that is multicultural but not homogeneous ("Shove your old pot," says Dudley Randall of his exclusion from the melting pot). However, some of the language may be considered insensitive by contemporary standards. There are folk songs and traditional poems (from "Jesse James" to "No More Auction Block" ) and many old favorites (Sandburg's "Chicago," Howe's "Battle Hymn of the Republic" ), but Philip has also included some wonderful old and new poems that are less commonly anthologized. McCurdy's bold, beautiful woodcuts, many depicting people at work, extend the energy and individuality of the words. Hazel Rochman

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; First Edition edition (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670861502
• ISBN-13: 978-0670861507
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,654,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A haphazard collection of poems, February 21, 2003

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Singing America: Poems That Define a Nation (Hardcover)

This book contains a collection of some 93 poems (if I counted correctly) that the editor feels define the United States. Indeed, a very wide net was cast in collecting these poems; there are patriotic poems (such as The Star-Spangled Banner and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere), and poems disparaging America (including one about an ex-Confederate's hatred for the U.S., and some decrying American culture, racism and/or damage to the environment). There are two wonderful Shaker contributions, seven by Native Americans, some by famous poets, and some that are anonymous.

Overall I found this to be a good collection of poems, though I did find the lack of a unifying theme made the collection seem rather haphazard. Michael McCurdy provided the illustrations for this book, but their stark, black-and-white appearance contributed toward giving the book a negative feel to it. Overall, this book did not impress me, and I give it a rather guarded recommendation.