Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Pictorial Tribute to the Negro National Anthem. - Review - book review

Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Pictorial Tribute to the Negro National Anthem by James Weldon Johnson, Introduction by Henrietta M. Smith Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children January 2001, $15.99, ISBN 0-786-80626-5

The Negro National Anthem was composed by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 with his brother John Rosamond Johnson and the publication of this pictorial tribute marks the 100th anniversary of the song's creation. Black and white photos accompany the lyrics and choruses from all three verses of "Lift Every Voice and Sing." According to the introduction, the song was composed as a piece for a chorus to sing during a special celebration of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln.

The introduction is the only narrative which accompanies the images and lyrics, and thus, it is unclear how the photos were selected or who selected them. Such complete archival documentation is helpful and necessary for authenticity and to give credit where credit is due.

The photographs are stark black and white images, and for most of the twenty-one images within, it is easy to interpret and explain to a child how the picture goes with the lyrics and music. This all too short book is a lovely picture book for children with a built in history lesson.

Teresa E Neely is a librarian and writer at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

COPYRIGHT 2001 Cox, Matthews & Associates
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group