Like a Bird: The Art of the American Slave Song by Cynthia Grady-ADVISABLE

Grady, Cynthia, ill. By Michele Wood.  Like a Bird: The Art of the American Slave Song. Lerner Publishing, 2016. $19.99. INFORMATION

 Ever wondered what the history was behind the songs American slaves used to sing? What inspired them to sing so soulfully? In this book, Claudia Gray takes each well-known song and shares the history and the music with the lyrics. Alongside each song, Michele Wood’s detailed, realistic illustrations bring to life the author’s text. Together, readers are immersed in the slave culture and given a better understanding of a not so well-known part of history. 

Readers who are interested in the pre-Civil War era, history, or who need to read a non-fiction will want to pick this book up. Included are a glossary, sources for further reading, and a bibliography for use with common core standards.

EL - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica M, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.