Change Sings

Synopsis:

“’I can hear change humming
In its loudest, proudest song.
I don’t fear change coming,
And so I sing along.‘
 
In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves. 
 
With lyrical text and rhythmic illustrations that build to a dazzling crescendo by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long, Change Sings is a triumphant call to action for everyone to use their abilities to make a difference.”

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Review:

I, like many others, wasn’t familiar with Amanda Gorman until hearing her recite “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration in January. I was immediately captivated by her words, her presence, and her performance. And I jumped online to see what else she had written after hearing she was the National Youth Poet Laureate. What a wonderful way to introduce kids to what poetry can be, a response, and a call to action in the present day. It doesn’t always have to be the epic poetry of Ancient Greece or Shakespeare’s sonnets.

Change Sings is just that a call to action for even the youngest of kids. To see that change comes from within and can spread throughout your community. With beautiful words and rhymes and gorgeous spreads full of bright colors, this could be the type of poetry that could open doors to a child’s creativity.

Verdict:

This is a beautiful book – one that I’ve already read a handful of times and will keep coming back to.

You also shouldn’t miss Amanda Gorman reciting the book either, it’s well worth it! Scripts and poetry, are often created to be read aloud and performed out loud. This is a great example of how the author hears this poem. Listen for the pauses and emphasis to capture the beauty of Amanda’s words.

Teachers, there is a wonderful resource guide created by Penguin Random House and Disrupt Text. It’s full of discussion questions, extensions beyond the book and so much more!

If you’re interested in purchasing Change Sings by Amanda Gorman and illustrated by Loren Long, please use my affiliate links for Bookshop.org or Amazon.com. When you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

Need to Know:

Title: Change Sings
Author: Amanda Gorman
Illustrator: Loren Long
Publisher: Viking
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Page Number: 32 pgs.