ALL NIGHT, ALL DAY
A Child's First Book of African-American Spirituals
edited by Ashley Bryan & illustrated by Ashley Bryan
Twenty splendid examples of spirituals are provided with simple arrangements by David Manning Thomas (guitar chords also included). Bryan's resplendent paintings fill textless double spreads that alternate with the unembellished pages of music. Visual celebrations rather than literal illustrations, they merge the representational with the purely decorative—the swirling, stylized waters of the Jordan, for example, contrasting with the faceted geometric patterns of the ships sailing on it. Bryan's palette is light but intense, like sun through brightly colored tissue paper; his figures are graced with dignity and inner serenity. A truly beautiful book, worthy of the wonderful music it showcases. Note on the spirituals. (Nonfiction. 4+)