Picture Books

Sing a Song

How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations

“Lyons delivers the history of a song that has inspired generations of African-Americans to persist and resist in the face of racism and systemic oppression. . . . A heartfelt history of a historic anthem.”–Publishers Weekly

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us.
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.

In Jacksonville, Florida, two brothers, one of them the principal of a segregated, all-black school, wrote the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” so his students could sing it for a tribute to Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in 1900. From that moment on, the song has provided inspiration and solace for generations of Black families. Mothers and fathers passed it on to their children who sang it to their children and grandchildren. Known as the Black National Anthem, it has been sung during major moments of the Civil Rights Movement and at family gatherings and college graduations.

Inspired by this song’s enduring significance, Kelly Starling Lyons and Keith Mallett tell a story about the generations of families who gained hope and strength from the song’s inspiring words.

Praise for Sing a Song:

“Tracing the history of Black Americans since 1900 through five generations of one family, this creative book also connects events and cultural shifts with particular lines in the song, underscoring their relevance during certain times. . . . With clarity and warmth, the illustrations sensitively capture the changing characters, emotions, and eras as time passes. . . . Well-structured, original story. . . . Dovetailing nicely with the books that introduce the song itself, this moving picture book celebrates it as a ‘symbol of faith, brilliance, resistance, and resilience.’”—Booklist, starred review

A Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year Selection
An ALSC Notable Children’s Book
BCALA and ALSC Social Justice Reading List

Meet-the-Author of Sing a Song (audio clip of me talking about the book.) TeachingBooks Book Reading | Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations

Educator Guide

Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations Study Guide & Lesson Plans

Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations Activity Guide

Buy The Book

Book Trailer

Celebrate the 120th anniversary of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with SING A SONG written by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Keith Mallett, a stirring picture book about the Black National Anthem and how it inspired five generations of a family.

Picture Books

What readers say:

This award-winning book is adorned with rich, lush illustrations that follow a loving family coming together for a reunion. The sense of pride among the family members is almost palpable as they commemorate all that they have accomplished and have to be grateful for. This is a truly beautiful story on many levels.

— LibraryMom

Going Down Home with Daddy

I LOVE this book and so did my students. I read this story for my school’s Black History Month read-a-thon. All the students asked if I could read it again and some of the teachers were emotional towards the end of the story. Beautiful story!

— Zakiah S Baker

Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations

This was a beautiful story about a beautiful person. Very inspirational.

— Andre Vega

Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon

Great book about a little girl spending the day with her grandmother and baking cinnamon bread together. Zoe, the little girl, tells readers that her grandmother’s hands have a lot of stories to tell, and she wonders what stories her own hands will tell. There’s a recipe for cinnamon bread at the end of the book – definitely worth a try if you like cinnamon bread!

— NC Mom

My Hands Tell a Story

I listened to the author read this book aloud and it was such a delightful experience. The writing and illustration are both so lovely and the story comes to a heartwarming conclusion. Five stars!

— L. Kline

Tiara’s Hat Parade

This story takes place in the reconstruction period after slavery had been abolished. Before this time Ellen’s parents were not allowed to marry, and so they like many others participated in ceremony where they jumped over the broom together into marriage. I really enjoyed this book and it would be a perfect pairing for teaching kids about this time period in American history. Even though the illustrations for this book were honored, I think the story itself is wonderful too. I think an appropriate age range for this book would be 5-7 years old.

— Heather Dawson

Ellen’s Broom

I liked how Kelly has given an historical depiction of slavery from a child’s point of view.

— DSmith

Hope’s Gift

The illustrations are vivid and eye-catching and show great details that move the story’s tension forward as well as show off-stage humorous happenings (see prehistoric frog as the story unfolds). The text makes fun read aloud material with repeating text to get listeners involved with the story.

— Danielle

One More Dino on the Floor

Beautifully illustrated with a story to match. The simplicity and power of the prose makes this book a winner for parents and children. My chest swells with pride every time I read it, just like I felt watching the Million Man March! Well done!

— Dawn Blagrove

One Million Men and Me

My 6-year-old daughter who is Asian American read this book and loved it! It reminded her of her grandmother who tells stories of the past and loves to cook for her. I enjoyed how the recipe is a part of the narrative and we, as readers, can relive Grandma Honey’s legacy by baking the teacakes ourselves. Great story to be shared for both children AND adults.

— Young Haas

Tea Cakes for Tosh