This is a beautifully illustrated and highly informative book. I will be sharing it with the music teacher at my elementary school.

Music was paramount for slaves in the 1800s and earlier. Michele Wood paints her interpretations of many of these iconic spirituals to aid in the preservation of these important songs of history.

Each of the thirteen illustrated songs includes lyrics, music and brief notes on the context of the song.

As an educator and children’s librarian I can say that this book should be in every library. There’s a reason Michele Wood is a Coretta Scott King Award winner. The illustrations are beautifully crafted, intricate and vivid.

Thank you Lerner Publishing Group, Millbrook Press and NetGalley for the gifted ebook.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. My library will be purchasing it this winter for our African-American picture book collection.