Customer Reviews

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

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I really enjoyed the book When Marian Sang, by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Biran Selznick. I think it should have won the Caldecott 2003 award. It is a very good biography! The book is so detailed. It is a book for an older child. It has a great plot and is a true story. It is about an African-American woman who has a beautiful voice, but doesn't get a fair chance to show off her talent because she is a different race. It is a wonderful biography. The book tells the story first, and then in the back it states the facts. It is easier to understand what happened without all the dates tossed into the main story. It is a great biography for children to start understanding how to read a biography. I loved the book When Marian Sang!

When this book first came out, I was ecstatic that someone took the time to make the life of Marian Anderson accessible to children. Too often classical singers of the Civil Rights era are overlooked and forgotten. The combination of the gorgeous illustrations and lovely text make this book exceptional. Although not the easiest book for children to read on their own, as a read-aloud in a classroom setting, it can make an incredible impact. It is an excellent book to incite discussion on many subjects and it truly inspires children to pursue their dreams despite the troubles they may face.
The timeless lyrics interwoven within the story comment wonderfully on Marian's life and the perseverance with which she dealt with her struggles. The beauty of this book is that it focuses on the accomplishments of her life and the overcoming of disappointments, not the actual disappointments themselves. This lack of sensationalism gives the book dignity. This is definitely one book that I will treasure and hope to share many times over with students in my own classroom.

The dynamic duo that brought us Amelia And Eleanor Go For A Ride are back with an amazing new picture book biography of the great contralto, Marian Anderson. From her humble beginnings in South Philadelphia, to her great success in Europe, "Marian Fever," and the famous 1939 concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, to her momentous debut, at the age of 57, with the Metropolitan Opera, Pam Munoz Ryan highlights Marian's long and remarkable career, and paints a vivid and riveting portrait of her struggle with the humiliation of racism and prejudice in America. "...When she arrived at her destination, she often sang the same program twice, to separate audiences - one white and one black - or to segregated groups, whites in the best seats and blacks in the balcony. Many times, she was welcomed enthusiastically by her audiences, and then could not get a hotel room because she was Negro." Her great dignity and courage was an inspiration to all, and she worked hard to make life better for future African American performers. "...Marian sang for kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, famous composers and conductors. She received medals, awards, and honorary degrees for her magnificent voice. But there was still one place Marian had not sung..." Ms Munoz Ryan's eloquent text is both poignant and uplifting, and complemented by Brian Selznick's powerfully evocative and emotional artwork in warm, old photograph-like sepia tones. Together, word and art captures the life and times of Marian Anderson, and brings them to life on the page. With an author's and illustrator's note at the end to further illuminate and enlighten, When Marian Sang is perfect for youngsters 7 and older, and is a stunning masterpiece that shouldn't be missed. "On opening night excitement charged the air. As Marian waited in the wings, the orchestra began. Her stomach fluttered. She walked onto the grand stage. Trembling, she straightened her costume and waited for the pounding music she knew to be her cue. Tonight was her debut with the Metropolitan Opera. At long last, she had reached the sun and the moon. The curtains parted... and Marian sang."

WHEN MARIAN SANG beautifully depicts the life of Marian Anderson, a wonderful singer who broke racial barriers to become one of the most world-renowned performers. The story tells of her humble upbringing in Philadelphia and the support she garnered from her family, her church, and her community. It also tells of the discrimination that Marian faced when trying to learn music and later when she attempted to perform. Yet, Marian persevered. She went to Europe where she received so much attention and acclaim that it was said the people suffered from "Marian Fever." She later returned to the United States, and fought prejudices and discrimination by performing at the Lincoln Memorial. She was finally able to break down racial barriers and perform at the Metropolitan Opera. At last, Marian felt free to sing.

WHEN MARIAN SANG is an inspirational and educational biography of a great performer. The book gives details in a poignant, yet simplistic way that people of all ages will be able to appreciate. The illustrations are truly breathtaking. I enjoyed the fact that verses of songs that Marian sang were intertwined within the text to add depth to the story. I was also impressed with the detailed information about Marian's life and the fact that her discography was included in the back of the book. Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selznick have done an excellent job in telling the story of Marian Anderson. I look forward to future works from this dynamic duo.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This book is undoubtedly one of the best books that I have ever read for my class. It teaches people, both young and old, a little piece of our American history including the Great Depression and segregation. With it, the tandum of Ryan and Selznick provide a general overview of history realia. Overall, this piece is a great resources to read for all people.

A little black girl named Marian Anderson loved to sing . She would sing to her baby doll everyday. Every Sunday she would go to church and sing with her sister. She and her family were very proud. She grew into her teens and still loved to sing. People say when Marian sang she would sing with her eyes closed ,as finding the music within. As marian sang her heart filled with tragedy and sometimes her songs.
Marian was a full grown adult and Marians parents past away She was sad but still sang.

She went to a music school and she patiently in line for an application. The girl behind the counter helped everyone else but Marian. The lady didn't let her have an application because she was colored. She grew older and married a fine man who respected her singing. She went to a master singer and he loved her singing so she sang and sang till the end of her days.

I was first introduced to Pam Munoz Ryan's writing when I read the novel Becoming Naomi Leon. With When Marian Sang being the second book of Pam Munoz Ryan that I have read, I have come to appreciate her books. Although this book was not as captivating writing wise, I think it is a great biography for children to read.

The vocabulary used was appropriate and easy to follow, even for less experienced readers. The length of the book was perfect for a biography also. My favorite part of this book are the illustrations. I like that all the pictures were done in a tone that made the audience feel as if they were going through an old photo album of Marian. All the pictures are done in this color tone except for on the last page when it depicts Marian finally reaching her dreams after all her struggles.

The book addresses a specific time in history in our country where prejudice, racism, and hatred were definitely evident. As a aspiring teacher, I think that this book could easily be used to segway into several different lessons such as in history, art, language, writing, and music. Overall, this book was a good, concise biography catered to a younger audience.

This is a big, beautiful picture book biography about the legendary singer Marian Anderson. It tells the story of the little girl with the "strong and velvety" voice who rose to become one of the most decorated and honored singers in the world, while racism and segregation formed the backdrop to her life.

Marian Anderson was born in 1897 in South Philadelphia. Her musical talents were recognized early on and she performed in local churches, and then in Philadelphia's celebrated People's Chorus. Music meant everything to Marian, and she was determined to go to music school. At eighteen, she applied but was told, "We don't take colored" from the receptionist at the front desk. So she continued to work hard on her own, taking lessons where she could to improve her skills.

Finally in 1927, she decided to go to Europe where other African Americans had gone. Here she discovered success. Europe was much more progressive than the United States. She was able to sing to mixed audiences and travel without all of the restrictions she had previously faced. She had amazing success overseas, and was beloved wherever she toured.

However, when she returned to the U.S. in 1939, she discovered that things hadn't really changed. The book then tells the remarkable story of how she came to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. After being denied access to Constitution Hall, people like Eleanor Roosevelt and Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes took a stand for Marian in a time of deep racial segregation. Permission was eventually given for her to perform at the Lincoln Memorial, and when she sang on that Easter Sunday, it was to 75,000 people of all races.

When Marian Sang is a powerful book to read to elementary school-aged kids. For although it paints a picture of an America tinged with racism and prejudice, it also shows how the arts can transcend and overcome these obstacles. Marian Anderson's story should be told over and over again.

This is a wonderful book for children! It is a wonderful biography on how Marian Anderson became successful singer and how she over came segregation. This book is great for students of all ages. It may not be easy for younger children to read it on their own but still would have an impact if read aloud. The book also has song lyrics intertwined in the text, which is really interesting. The illustrations are also very beautiful and I think children would love them. This book is great for a classroom or for a child's home collection.

Our 10 year old was drawn into this book by its cover art. She was magically drawn into the engaging story and magnificent art that brought a gasp of awe with each slowly turned page. The message has a powerful and inspirational history lesson as well as carefully researched details by both author and illustrator. We loved the detailed "Encore" at the end describing the legwork and charming stories that led to a real keeper of a book. Don't miss this one!