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

by Ashley Bryan, Ashley Bryan (Illustrator), David Manning Thomas (Arranged by)

Overview

Raise your voice with this musical illustrated songbook of traditional African American spirituals including instructions for piano accompaniment and guitar chords.

Many songs performed at churches, schools, camps, or clubs are African American spirituals. This lively and inspirational picture book shines a light on twenty of the thousand songs that have been collected since the Civil War, including “All Night, All Day,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689316623
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/30/1991
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine.

Ashley Bryan (1923–2022) grew up to the sound of his mother singing from morning to night, and he shared the joy of song with children. A beloved illustrator, he was named a Newbery Honoree for his picture book, Freedom Over Me. He also received the Coretta Scott King—Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, was a May Hill Arbuthnot lecturer, a Coretta Scott King Award winner, and the recipient of countless other awards and recognitions. His books include Freedom Over Me; Sail Away; Beautiful Blackbird; Beat the Story-Drum, Pum Pum; Let It Shine; Ashley Bryan’s Book of Puppets; and What a Wonderful World. He lived in Islesford, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Maine.

Table of Contents

Contents

All Night, All Day

Chatter with the Angels

Who's That a-Comin' Over Yonder

Somebody's Knocking at Your Door

This Little Light of Mine

Behold That Star

I'm a-Going to Eat at the Welcome Table

O When the Saints Go Marching In

I Stood on the River of Jordan

Get on Board

Peter, Go Ring the Bells

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

Wade in the Water

There's No Hiding Place

The Rocks and the Mountains

I'm Gonna Sing

Open the Window, Noah

O Won't You Sit Down

Now Let Me Fly

Great Big Stars

A Note on the Spirituals

Editorial Reviews

Alongside sheet music of 20 spirituals, beginning with "All Night, All Day," and concluding appropriately with "Great Big Stars," Bryan illustrates every pair of songs with a wordless spread that evokes stained glass, with the light of these songs' promise shining through. Ages 4-8. (Jan.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 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

School Library Journal

School Library Journal The songs leap off the page, demanding to be played and sung.

Young Reader A remarkable achievement and a lovely treasure.

Kirkus Reviews starred review A truly beautiful book, worthy of the wonderful music it showcases.

From the Publisher