Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Bryan has selected twenty best-known and best-loved African-American spirituals, including the title song, "All Night, All Day," and such others as "This Little Light of Mine," "O When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." Glorious full-color pictures,

Ashley Bryan says, "I have subtitled this collection A Child's First Book of African-American Spirituals. It could really be called Spirituals for the Young and ALL! And so it could be, for the songs it presents can be enjoyed by people of every age and every level of musical skill.

Spirituals originated among enslaved Africans in America during the colonial era. They resonate throughout African American history from that time to the civil rights movement, from the cotton fields to the concert stage, and influenced everything from gospel music to blues and rap. They have offered solace in times of

Presents biographies of 274 authors and artists, including birthplace, education, approach to art or literature, career development, awards and honors, and bibliography.

"A careful selection of children's and young adult books with multicultural themes and topics which were published in the United States and Canada between 1991 and 1996"--Preface, p. vii.