Young readers are introduced to one of opera's most important singers, known for her historic 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial which drew an integrated crowd of over 75,000 in pre-Civil Rights America. Full color.

Reviews

Gr 1-5-Pam Munoz Ryan's powerful story (Scholastic, 2002) tells of the gifted African-American singer, Marian Anderson, and her struggles to overcome many racial barriers during the first half of the 20th century. Anderson is perhaps best known for her concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before an integrated audience in 1939. The book concludes some 16 years later, when Anderson was the first African American invited to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Gail Nelson's clear, well-paced narration is well-suited to the story. Anderson's own voice is a powerful complement to the narration. Her incredible voice and her verses are deftly connected with the story of her life. Brian Selznick's exquisite book illustrations feature lush sepia tones. One side of the recording has page-turn signals, but the actual sound of a page turning may be difficult for young listeners to discern along with the many varied sound effects. A welcome addition to public and school library collections for music, social studies, and biography units.-Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.