Reviewed by Brad Manker Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: If your ears can’t hear the strum, or hum, or thrum of a melody, can music still swirl and whirl? Talented Evelyn Glennie embraced music from a young age but gradually grew deaf. Her audiologist, and others around her, predicted that she would have to […]
Build a House
Reviewed by Rethinking Schools Book Author: Build a House is based on the moving song that Rhiannon Giddens wrote and performed with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth in 2020. Giddens’ lovely, poignant new book illustrates the song, telling the story of enslavement and freedom: “You brought me here/ To build your house/ To […]
Yellow Dog Blues
Reviewed by Zapoura Newton-Calvert Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author: Yellow Dog moved to Memphis! He followed the city lights. He sings the blues on Beale Street now. He sings all day and night. — From Yellow Dog Blues When Bo Willie sees his front gate swinging open, he knows Yellow Dog is gone. And […]
Bravo, Anjali!
Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Anjali is the only girl in a boy-dominated tabla class. When she rises to the top, her friend Deepak accuses her of standing out not for her talent, but for being a girl playing a man’s instrument. Although Anjali is used to people assuming that […]
Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations
Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: We should all know the story and words of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and now thanks to this picture book, we can. Author Kelly Starling Lyons tells the 120-year history of the song through generations of her family who have […]
Solo
Reviewed by Anastasia Shown Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: I enjoyed Solo. The emotions expressed by Blade are true to the teen experience. Rock legends, including Nigerian Fela Kuti, are woven throughout the story and help to push the narrative along. My favorite character is Joy. She is the person who teaches us the most about Ghana. […]