Soul Looks Back in Wonder [Paperback]

Various (Author), Tom Feelings (Editor, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

In this compelling collection of words and pictures, the voices of 13 major poets, including Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Walter Dean Myers, rise in response to the dazzling vistas and emotionally vivid portraits of award-winning artist Tom Feelings. A unique and moving collaboration that celebrates the sustaining spirit of African creativity. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Feelings approached 13 African-American authors to write poems for what PW called, in a starred review, his "breathtaking" full-color collages; poets from Langston Hughes to Maya Angelou come together for this life-affirming celebration. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up-Artist Feelings invited poets whom he admired to compose original, short verses for these drawings, with breathtakingly rich and powerful results. A tribute to African-American creativity, the collection should appeal to the sensibilities and imaginations of many readers, regardless of ethnic background. A never-before published poem by Langston Hughes, written to accompany Feeling's 1962 poster for the Congress of Racial Equality, is included. The 11-line piece asks, "All you who are dreamers too,/Help me to make/Our world anew./I reach out my dreams to you." Maya Angelou, Walter Dean Myers, and Lucille Clifton are among the 12 other contributors. The full-color, three-quarter and double-spread art depicts children and young people from West Africa, South America, and the United States, but a few of the poems do not speak to young children, e.g., Haki R. Madhubuti's "Destiny": "under volcanoes & timeless years within watch/and low tones. around corners, in deep caves among/misunderstood and sometimes meaningless sounds./ cut beggars, outlaw pimps & whores. resurrect work." That poem, as well as Eugene B. Redmond's Boyz n Search of Their Soular System, will prove more meaningful to adult and young adult readers.
Judy Greenfield, Rye Free Reading Room, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140565019
• ISBN-13: 978-0140565010
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,131,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soul Looks Back In Wonder, April 2, 2000

By 

"sherrie87" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Looks Back in Wonder (Paperback)

This is a lavishly illustrated collection of poetry aimed at African American young adults. The Amazon age range seems to be a bit low (4-8)- I would suggest 10 and up. As Tom Feelings states: "too many teenagers are growing up in an environment where indifference and hostility are bullets aimed straight at the core of their spirits. One way to project our positive hopes for the future is for young people to see their own beauty reflected in our eyes, through our work. And so this book is for our precious young African sisters and brothers, who are our today and our tomorrow." All of the artwork is by Tom Feelings, and the poets featured are: Maya Angelou, Lucille Clifton, Alexis De Veaux, Mari Evans, Darryl Holmes, Langston Hughes, Rashidah Ismaili, Haki R. Madhubuti, Walter Dean Myers, Mwatabu Okantah, Eugene B. Redmond, Askia M. Toure and Margaret Walker. There are also brief biographies of each of the poets. This is a beautifully illustrated poetry book. The poetry stresses the beauty and power of African Americans, and it is well reflected in the illustrations. This book would be excellent to use in a poetry study, or as part of a study of black history. The short length of this book, along with the excellent illustrations, make it a great choice to use as an introduction to poetry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Class Book, March 11, 2006

By 

S. N. Regan (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Looks Back in Wonder (Paperback)

I used this book as part of an African American Histroy Month. The children loved it.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Children of all ages, March 12, 2005

By 

M. Giddings (Havre de Grace, Md) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soul Looks Back in Wonder (Paperback)

This book is great for any child that enjoys books. The pictures are wonderful, so even if you will be reading the book to a child they will be intrested.