Spin a Soft Black Song

This collection of poems celebrates individuals and communities who face ordinary struggles with extraordinary wit, energy, and strength. The rhythmic language demands to be read aloud. Sepia-toned illustrations add boldness and warmth.

There is nothing more important to a child than to feel loved, and this wonderful gathering of poems celebrates exactly that. The illustrations add a flourish of color, shape, and movement, and a visual layering that helps impart the most important message of all to young, old, parent, child, grandparent, and friend alike: You are loved. One page is mirrored, so children reading the book can see exactly who is loved — themselves!

The friendship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist who was once enslaved, is presented in richly imagined text and collage illustrations.

Evocative poetry and lovely watercolor artwork brings the Christmas story to life for young readers. Animals from across the ancient Palestinian landscape lumber, gambol, crawl, fly, and parade toward Bethlehem with gifts worthy of the newborn King. Rare ebony wood, a finely tuned harp, mustard and saffron, a zither, apricot cakes, and other treasures are carried to the manger. The animals bow low and join the music of the angels in a welcoming lullaby.

Rosa Parks was an ordinary woman who became a hero because she “was not going to give in to that which was wrong.” A catalyst for the famous Montgomery Bus boycott in Alabama, she turned the nation’s attention to a glaring injustice in our society. Powerful illustrations evoke a time before the Civil Rights era and give the reader a glimpse at a person, her impact, and a period in American history.

A mother encircles her daughter like a bottle around a genie, and teaches her the craft of weaving and the world of possibilities before letting her out on her own. The lyrical poetry envelops the reader like the mother’s arms, and offers gentle protection and loving support.

Poetic language and gentle illustrations depict girls being girls! Stories have a playful tone and are easy to read.

This collection offers children an introduction to poetry through rich imagery and vivid illustrations. The stream-of-consciousness style sticks to familiar childhood themes to keep children engaged.