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

~ Ashley Bryan (Author), David Manning Thomas (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Unique to the world of music and admired for their richly emotional content, African-American spirituals receive the celebration they deserve in this collection of songs for young children. Old favorites such as "O When the Saints Go Marching In" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" are coupled with lesser-known titles such as the collection's namesake, "All Night, All Day." All of the songs are stirring and inspirational when sung by young children. They come with guitar and piano accompaniments, as well as warmly hued, free-flowing illustrations of natural forms--waves, leaves, flower petals, stars--that suggest a feeling of radiance and hope. All Night, All Day won the Coretta Scott King Award for 1992.

From School Library Journal

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.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1ST edition (March 30, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689316623
• ISBN-13: 978-0689316623
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,968,836 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Introduction to the Spirituals!, January 10, 2002

By	M. Dixon (Lisle, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful introduction to the beautiful art form, the Spiritual. Bryan's selection is broad and include familiar tunes along with those not so widespread. The colors are inviting and seem to dance along with the melodic melodies of the notes.