by Alice McGill, Michael Cummings (Illustrator)

Slave lullabies, created from the African-American experience, were sung to give hope for a better time to come. Although these lullabies were born of hardship and overwhelming sadness, they can be thought of as musical stories for children and adults. By turns soothing, playful, empowering, and bittersweet, the songs convey the love of parents for children. Since childhood, Alice McGill has been collecting and singing these lullabies. Here they are preserved along with vibrant quilt collages and a CD recording of each song, introduced and sung by McGill. Her voice is rich and resonant, adding yet another dimension to these moving pieces of oral history. This beautiful package of lullabies, artwork, and personal history invites readers of all ages to sing along and remember the powerful words and melodies of a people struggling to survive.