Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3 Up–This poem was largely inspired by the terrible natural disasters occurring throughout the world when Angelou was invited to read at the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony. Thus, the opening lines rumble and roil almost menacingly to illustrate the climate of doubt and anxiety into which the spirit of Christmas arrives. Hope enters as a whisper and grows until it is louder than the explosion of bombs. The harsher aspects of the world fade as people of all faiths and races join together in trust and brotherhood. Johnson and Fancher's paintings, rendered in oil, acrylic, and fabric on canvas, elegantly depict a calm, snow-blanketed village where children play, families shop, and artisans ply their crafts. People gather at the Town Hall for sweets and cocoa, and then, in a candlelight procession, join again to sing beneath the stars. This is a comforting book that gets to the heart of what Christmas should mean. As an added treat, Angelou reads the poem on the accompanying CD.–Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Originally read at the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony and published as a Christmas book for adults, Angelou’s stirring poem is presented alongside convivial winter scenes in a picture book intended for young readers, but whose message and splendid artwork will appeal to all ages. Angelou celebrates the spirit of the season—a time to learn to look beyond complexion and see community—with a resonating call for hope, unity, and, above all, peace. Johnson and Fancher’s richly textured acrylic, oil, and fabric collage illustrations reflect the sentiments of the poem while also telling their own story, as a family makes their way through a snowy small town to join their multicultural community in a celebration at the town hall. From the strings of Christmas lights on buildings ingeniously constructed from textured fabric to the glorious washes of candlelight on the carolers’ faces, the timeless, heartwarming scenes dazzle the eye with their incandescence. An accompanying CD of Angelou’s reading the poem completes the package. Grades K-5. --Kristen McKulski --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400065585
• ISBN-13: 978-1400065585
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #529,645 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, December 10, 2005

By	Jonathan Scarsella "Jon S." (michigan...United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This poem is one of Maya Angelou's best writings...and thats saying something!
This a is very moving and powerful poem. There will surely be many coppies of this poem, wrapped up under my family's christmas tree this year.
I recomend this work to any Angelou fan and also to anyone who is a fan of peace and generosity, of faith or of freedom...This is a true gem in a sea of rocks...timeless and splendid.
This is one writer who proves that she still has the power to move the people.
If I could give this book 50 stars, I wouldn't hesitate for a second.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mighty poem for the holidays, December 18, 2005

By	Matt Blalock "Matt Blalock" (Winston-Salem, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book - of only one poem - holds a special place in my heart. To be such a minute writing, I find its meaning to be mighty.
This Christmas I will be 18, and as my younger sister and I decided we didnt want gifts from Santa any more, because we could see the problems it put on our parents and the family as a whole. It saddens me to think about this, but even more due to the fact it wasnt paying for gifts that created a burden; I am very fortunate, and my family has enough money to get most anything we would like throughout the year. The burden felt in my family was what to buy. After discussing how I felt about the holidays with my sister, we decided it would be benefecial to the entire family to only request things the whole family could enjoy.
I bought this book for the family to mark in history both the last gift, and again the first gift to the family. This Christmas has been, byfar, the best Christmas ever. Maya Angelou became the inspiration we needed to realize what the holidays are really about, togetherness.
I would recommend this poem to anyone; but especially to families out there who feel like holidays in their home are not what they are really supposed to be.
In case you are curious, I ask Santa for a new refrigerator, and my sister ask for a new dining table. I cant wait for Christmas morning!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, November 19, 2008

By	Hank Dickenson (Pittsburgh PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem (Hardcover)

This is a lovely book. It is beautifully written in the Maya Angelou format. It encompasses the true spirit of Christmas through the themes of war, peace and spiritual unity.

I purchased it for my son who is almost 8 years-old, but I feel this book is best suited for an older child who has a deeper undersatnding of poetic language and can better understand these themes.

A warm read for adults- expressing an all inclusive approach toward mankind and religion.