How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace
by Carole Boston Weatherford ill Frank Morrison
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come
Who knew?
Who knew that in the 1700's John Newton, inspired by a violent storm he endured while on board a British slave ship, would pen the words to well-known hymn? Really? A slave trader would write the words to Amazing Grace? The picture book How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace is an eye-opener.
Who knew that in the 1700's John Newton, inspired by a violent storm he endured while on board a British slave ship, would pen the words to well-known hymn? Really? A slave trader would write the words to Amazing Grace? The picture book How Sweet the Sound: The Story of Amazing Grace is an eye-opener.
The story continues. Eventually Newton returned to England, married, and became a minister. In time he completely reversed his views on slavery. He published these beliefs in the tract “Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade," a document which helped to end slavery in the British Empire.
 | Carole Boston Weatherford uses pairs of end-stopped couplets to create a lyrical retelling of the life of John Newton and the origins of this famous hymn. The pictures book chronicles the history and popularity of this hymn, sung by African Americans, Cherokees, Civil War soldiers, activists, gospel singers, recording artists, and even a president of the United States. Back matter includes a current version of the lyrics, an Author's Note, and suggestions for further reading and viewing. All enhance the value of this compelling story. |
Marvelous Art
 | Multi-talented artist Frank Morrison painted classic images that are well-suited to the text. I had the opportunity to view some of Morrison’s original work for this book. The framed paintings are awe-inspiring. He has eloquently captured the heartfelt emotion reflected in the song's lyrics. Below are my photos of two Morrison paintings, paired with the illustrations and accompanying text as they appear in the published book. This picture book, signed by the artist, is now one of my treasures. |
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Amazing Sounds
There are many renditions of Amazing Grace. In addition to the two shown here, performances by Mahalia Jackson, Judy Collins, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and many others may be accessed on YouTube.
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Review based a copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: May 1, 2018 Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-1481472067
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