This incredible picture book beautifully illustrates slave songs, presents a score with lyrics, and tells the story of each song. A glossary, appendix with scoreless lyrics, and bibliography appear at the end. This book deserves a place in libraries and homes. I don't often keep picture books except for cat books, but this is one that I will keep. ( )

The artwork in this book is absolutely amazing. Michelle Wood, the illustrator, used Spirituals to give her inspiration for her illustrations. Thirteen different songs are highlighted, such as Jacob's Ladder, Michael Row Your Boat Ashore, Ezekial Saw the Wheel, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child and more. The origin of the song is explained and the lyrics are included. The illustration is highlighted and some questions are asked. This is a wonderful book that would definitely be a highlight of a Black History Presentation. This should be in every school and public library.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

The title of this collection of African American spirituals came from a story told by Harriet Tubman, the escaped slave who courageously returned to the South on some thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved families and friends.

As the author reports:

“Harriet Tubman, born into slavery around 1820, used to dream that she was flying over the landscape ‘like a bird.’”

The author further notes that while the lives of the enslaved were exceedingly difficult, they used music to help them “pace their movements, lift their spirits, and communicate with one another.”

The main portion of the book showcases thirteen spirituals along with visual interpretations of them by award-winning artist Michele Wood. The songs are shown with both music and lyrics, as well as brief descriptions of the backgrounds and meanings of the songs.

The spirituals selected are old, familiar favorites, at least to me. I remember singing them in elementary school (without being told, of course, that they were slave spirituals).

In contrast to the way picture books are usually made, it was the illustrator who had the concept for the book. She created 13 original acrylic paintings which she submitted to the author who then came up with the accompanying text.

At the end of the book, there are further notes about the lyrics, a glossary, and a selected bibliography.

Evaluation: This book offers a different approach to learning the history of the slave period in America, educating readers on art, music, religious influences, and symbolic elements in the songs.

Spirituals include:

Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
Ezekiel Saw the Wheel
Jacob’s Ladder
Michael, Row the Boat Ashore
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
Go Down, Moses
Get On Board - the Gospel Train
Deep River
Ain’t Gonna Study War No More
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Steal Away
Oh Peter, Go Ring Them Bells ( )

Powerful paintings illustrate 13 well-known spirituals, including "Go Down, Moses" and "Deep River." The paintings are rich with symbolism, including many that feature motifs of quilts or stained glass, metaphors that go unexplained, sadly, given the richness of discussion that could arise if used in school. Sheet music accompanies the few descriptive paragraphs about each spiritual, its context, and/or its history. Review based on galley copy received from the publisher via NetGalley.com. (73) ( )