Price Tag: $17.95
Official URL: harcourtbooks.com
Rating:

A beautiful spring day in the park is the backdrop of this book about the many ways in which we are one: one with each other, one with the Universe, forever linked together in brotherhood and sisterhood.

THE STORY

This book is about celebrating the commonalities we share as humans. We all have hopes and dreams, and our children tend to be the embodiment of our belief in a better tomorrow. Our ancestors’ history courses through our veins. We may come from different places, be different colors, have different life experiences, but we are all brothers and sisters. The beautiful message of this story is that we are all more alike than we are different, inextricably connected to each other, at once both different and yet the same.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations were created using watercolors on paper. The cast of characters is a multicultural mix of browns, blacks, tans and whites. While I absolutely love to see a children’s book celebrating racial diversity, I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the illustrations. The words in the book are full of such strength and spirituality that the subdued, blurry illustrations don’t do justice. The overall effect is dreamlike, but when you are describing children as “the breath of our ancestors…the spirit of God,” pictures of them frolicking in the park seem to somewhat mute the message of the words.

THE CD

The CD alone is worth the cost of purchasing this book. Through the tracks, your child can experience the story as either a rousing song, performed as a five-part harmony by the a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, or as the powerful rendition of a storyteller. Dr. Barnwell, a member of Sweet Honey in the Rock, has the perfect voice for reading the book, deep and rich and stirring. When she exclaims, “We are builders of nations!” I almost jumped out of my seat and yelled “Hallelujah!”

The tracks of the CD include: “We Are….” Performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock; Introduction; Reading by the author; and “We Are…” Performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock. I listened closely and still could not discern any difference between track No.1 and No. 4.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell has been a member of the African-American a capella ensemble Sweet Hone in the Rock since 1979. She is also the author of No Mirrors in My Nana’s House. Dr. Barnwell lives in Washington, D.C.

Brian Pickney has illustrated numerous books for children and is the winner of several Caldecott Honors and Coretta Scott King Awards. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and children.

BOTTOM LINE

I love the message of unity in this book. I love that it celebrates diversity, but not in an overly pushy or preachy way. It is also rare to find one book that has images that are multigenerational and multiethnic. This picture book would make a great addition to your library, particularly for African-American and interracial families. Often when books come with CDs, it seems like the CD was an after-thought, but in this case the accompanying tracks only serve to enhance the story and the illustrations. I didn’t love the illustrations, but when I pop in the CD, all is forgiven.