A true story of peace, the power of art, and the great singer
and activist Paul Robeson told by his granddaughter.
"Daddy always said it takes a man of peace to stop a war.
SUSAN ROBESON is a longtime documentary film and television
producer. Her award-winning work has appeared on PBS, NBC and ABC
affiliates and has shown at the Museum of Modern Art, Lincoln
Center and numerous film festivals. She is currently producing a
major motion picture on the life of her grandfather, Paul Robeson.
Her first book, The Whole World In His Hands- A Pictorial Biography
of Paul Robeson, was an ALA best book for young adults. She resides
in the New York City area where she is an adjunct professor in film
and communications and executive director of the Paul Robeson
Foundation.
ROD BROWN is a fine artist and the illustrator of We Troubled the
Waters and Freedom's A-Callin Me both by Ntozake Shange, and From
Slave Ship to Freedom Road by Julius Lester, an ALA Best Book for
Young Adults. His artwork has been feartured in museums and on
national television including at the Schomburg Center for Research
in Black Culture in NYC, as well as on Oprah's OWN Network and the
Nickelodeon program "The Legacy of Slavery" with Linda Ellerbee. He
lives with his wife outside of Washington, DC.
"Paul Robeson lived in Harlem on St. Nicholas Avenue, not far
from me. He was our favorite singer and had a soulful voice,
like no other. Susan Robeson’s book, Grandpa Stops a
War, shares a wonderful message for children about his life
and his devotion to freedom and justice." —Faith
Ringgold, author of Tar Beach and We Came to
America
"Deeply saturated, highly textured illustrations effectively
capture the dangers Robeson encountered to try to bring peace to
war-torn Spain ... A story worth hearing about a cause worth
fighting." —Kirkus Reviews
"The author recalls her father telling the story of how her famous
grandfather, the singer Paul Robeson (1898–1976), 'stopped a war.'
In 1938, his singing for the soldiers on the front lines of Teruel
temporarily halted the Spanish Civil War ('The battlefield grew
silent. No shots were fired'). The story's humanity is underscored
with paintings by a sure hand." —The Horn Book
"Renowned African American singer Paul Robeson and his family lived
in London during the Spanish Civil War. Disturbed by reports
of homeless families in that country, he gave concerts and sent
money, food, and clothing to help Spanish children. Later, he
traveled to Madrid. The city was bombed that night, but he led
all who were huddled in his dark hotel to sing together. He visited
the front, where he sang African American spirituals and songs
of freedom with such feeling that soldiers on both sides were
moved. 'While Grandpa Paul sang, there was peace.' Susan Robeson,
the singer's granddaughter and a documentary filmmaker,
retells a family story simply and effectively, and leaves it to
listeners to reflect on implicit messages about war, peace,
and the power of one gifted, brave, compassionate person to
help others. In an appended author's note, she fills in
historical details. Brown contributes a series of
strong, well-composed paintings using deep, rich colors that
capture the book's emotional undertones
effectively." —Booklist
"A touching introduction for young readers of the great singer and
activist Paul Robeson, told by his granddaughter, with evocative
drawings by Rod Brown and intriguing back matter for older
readers." —Elizabeth Levy, author of over 100 books for
children and young adults, and former chair of PEN Children’s
Book Committee with Vera B. Williams
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