Let it Shine by: Ashley Bryan

1. Bibliographic Data
Bryan, Ashley . Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals. New York: Atheneum, 2007.

2. Plot Summary
Let it Shine is a book of three popular songs: "This Little of Mine", "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In", and "He's Got the Whole Worlds in His Hands". These three classic songs are sung in churches and sunday schools rooms all around the world. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, hide it under a bushel 'OH NO!' is a favorite among children who chant "OH NO!" back.

3. Critical Analysis
Ashley Bryan's use of African colors in the illustrations remind the reader of where these three favorite spirituals orginated. He uses vivid, bright colors in cut-page collages on every page that make the reader happy and excited about these three songs. These songs are meant to be sung outloud and danced to, and his illustrations show how the people of Africa enjoy them. His use of color reminds me of "Jesus Loves the Little Children", and how he loves them no matter what color they are. Bryan uses black, red, orange, brown, purple, and white to show all the different children within the book.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Coretta Scott King Award 2008
*American Library Association Notable Books for Children 2008
*School Library Journal..."Bryan again proves himself a maestro with scissors (depicted on the endpages) in a series of arresting, kaleidoscopic cut-construction-paper collages that interprets three beloved spirituals."

5. Connections
*Teach the children the different dances that go along with each song, so that they can dance and sing along. In "This Little Light of Mine", teach them to use their pointer finger as the candle, and then to cover that finger with their other hand when you sing the part about hiding the light under a bushel.
*Have the children cut out pictures from colored construction paper and create their own collages to go with the songs.

"Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals." Books in Print. ezproxy.twu.edu:2214/merge_shared/details/RecordDetails.asp?item_uid=54621420&viewItemIndex=0&navPage=1&FullText=&BipAlertQueryString=&BipAlertDisplayQText= (accessed September 30, 2010).