When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Brian Selznick (Illustrator)

Overview

Children’s Literature Legacy Award Winner

A harmonious introduction to one of our country's most important singers and role models—as envisioned by Newbery Honoree Pam Muñoz Ryan and Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick.

Marian Anderson is best known for her historic concert at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, which drew an integrated crowd of 75,000 people in pre-Civil Rights America. While this momentous event showcased the uniqueness of her voice, the strength of her character, and the struggles of the times in which she lived, it is only part of her story. Like the operatic arias Marian would come to sing, Ryan's text is as moving as a libretto, and Selznick's pictures as exquisitely detailed and elaborately designed as a stage set. What emerges most profoundly from their shared vision is a role model of courage.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439269674
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2002
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	157,353
Product dimensions:	12.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.42(d)
Lexile:	920L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Pam Muñoz Ryan is the recipient the NEA's Human and Civil Rights Award, the PEN America Award, and the 2024 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for her body of work. She was the 2018 U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She received a Newbery Honor Medal and the Kirkus Prize for her New York Times bestselling novel, Echo. Her other celebrated novels, Esperanza Rising, The Dreamer, Riding Freedom, Becoming Naomi Léon, Paint the Wind, and Mañanaland, have received countless accolades, among them the Pura Belpré Award, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, and the Américas Award. Her acclaimed picture books include Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride and the Sibert Honor book When Marian Sang, both illustrated by Brian Selznick, Mice and Beans illustrated by Joe Cepeda, and Tony Baloney illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, as well as a beginning reader series featuring Tony Baloney. Ryan lives near San Diego, California, with her family.
Brian Selznick’s books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless awards worldwide, and been translated into more than 35 languages. He broke open the novel form with his innovative and genre-defying thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous movie by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick, and the New York Times bestseller, The Marvels. Selznick’s two most recent books for young people, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, an ALA Notable Book co-written with his husband David Serlin, and Kaleidoscope, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2021, were both New York Times bestsellers as well. He also illustrated the 20th anniversary edition covers of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Selznick and Serlin divide their time between Brooklyn, New York and La Jolla, California. Learn more at thebrianselznick.com and mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.

Editorial Reviews

Distinctions and Praise for When Marian Sang: (partial listing)

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

ALA Notable Children's Book

Orbis Pictus Award Winner for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children

* "Linguistically and aesthetically, the book is a marvel of unified design . . . . Share this feast for the eyes and the soul with a wide audience." —School Library Journal, starred review

* "This book masterfully distills the events in the life of an extraordinary musician . . . . Stellar." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Perfectly paced and perfectly pitched, this never loses sight of the fact that Marian Anderson was both a world-class musician and a powerful symbol to her people. A bravura performance." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From the Publisher

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.

School Library Journal

Ryan and Selznick (Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, 1999, etc.) reunite for another magical collaboration, this time presenting Marian Anderson to a young audience. Using the visual metaphor of an operatic presentation, the production opens on the Metropolitan Opera stage just before performance, followed by a spread in which the audience watches as the curtain rises and a street scene reveals a tiny figure singing in a brightly-lit window. The shape of the volume lends itself to the broad sweep of the stage and even the title page reads like the show's program. Anderson's story is perhaps not well known to younger children, but Ryan does a good job of making it accessible. In simply stated prose she acquaints young readers, who may be disbelieving, with a time of social injustice when a person of color could not pursue a professional career in concert music and it was an act of personal courage to sing before racially mixed audiences. Verses of Anderson's most famous songs are included as they have meaningful application for events. The account includes the most notable episode in her life when, denied access to Washington's Constitution Hall because of her race, Marian sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a crowd of thousands-black and white. Selznick's carefully researched, sepia-toned, acrylic illustrations dramatize Anderson's strong, handsome face on most pages. That face is faithfully and powerfully rendered, eyes closed when singing, with an intense, almost sublime engagement in her music. The work culminates with another history-making moment when she realizes her dream and becomes the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera. Selznick depicts herin this spread standing triumphantly in the spotlight, a vivid spot of color in an otherwise monochromatic treatment. A lengthy "encore" includes personal details and history from both author and illustrator; an "ovation" cites resources. Perfectly paced and perfectly pitched, this never loses sight of the fact that Marian Anderson was both a world-class musician and a powerful symbol to her people. A bravura performance. (notable dates, discography)

Kirkus Reviews

Gail Nelson reads this picture book biography of the great Marian Anderson with excellent expression and a pace that allows new readers time to follow along and look at the pictures. Lyrics to Anderson’s songs are part of almost every spread, and the producers wisely include original recordings of Anderson herself singing them. When Anderson sings on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial the spiritual “Nobody Knows the Trouble I Seen,” a wordless illustration of the crowd watches her, and the music creates the emotion of this historic moment. Sadly, the book’s afterword is not read on any of the tracks. Still, this production takes an excellent book and makes it stunning. A.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2005 ALA Notable Recording, 2005 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

APR/MAY 05 - AudioFile