Make A Joyful Sound: Poems for Children by African-American Poets
by Deborah Shink, Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright

“I’ve always recommended Make a Joyful Sound. This book brought endless hours of fun and recitation for and from my children. One particular poem stuck, Hey Black Child! This is a poem we all still recite to this day, even though my children are now 26, 21 and 20 respectively.”—Rosheena Beek, author Mommy Says!

Make a Joyful Sound resonates with a message of hope and joy. This collection of poetry for children brings together a rich array of the voices of leading African-American poets. The poems are a celebration of childhood and the wonders of discovering the world and oneself. Many of the poems speak out about African-American identity - the history, dreams, and achievements that are the cornerstones of black culture in America. The strength, beauty, laughter, and love found in these poems will touch all children.

There are poems by Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Eloise Greenfield, Nikki Giovanni, Mari Evans, Quincy Troupe, Abiodun Oyewole, and Useni Eugene Perkins - all of which provide a wonderful introduction to poetry. This is a book to open a child’s heart and imagination, a book that will be read again and again.

In the video below, Peh&squo;Tehn Raighn-Kem, age 3, erforms the poem “Hey Black Child”" written by Countee Cullen, just of of the 60 poems included in Make A Joyful Sound.