God Bless the Child (picture book)
{{Short description|2003 book by Jerry Pinkney}}
{{Infobox book
| name = God Bless the Child
| image = God Bless the Child (picture book).jpg| caption =
| author = Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr.
| illustrator = Jerry Pinkney
| country = USA
| language = English
| genre = Children's literature, picture book, Song
| published = 2003 (HarperCollins)
| media_type = Print (hardback)
| pages = 32 (unpaginated)
| isbn = 9780060287979
| oclc = 45230462
| note = Includes cd of song by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.
}}
God Bless the Child is a 2003 picture book by Jerry Pinkney with the words and music of Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. It is about an African-American family moving from the rural Deep South to urban Chicago during the Great Migration.
Reception
School Library Journal (SLJ), in a review of God Bless the Child, called it "A moving visual interpretation", wrote "The warm and sweeping illustrations are masterful, completely filling each spread. .. While a fine choice for independent reading, this title is particularly poignant when shared with a group, turning the pages in conjunction with the CD.", and concluded "This offering makes an excellent tie-in to units on African-American history."{{cite web |url=https://catalog.wccls.org/Mobile/BakerAndTaylor/Review?ISBN=0060287977&UPC=&position=5 |title=God bless the child [sound recording (CD + book)]: Reviews |website=catalog.wccls.org |accessdate=February 19, 2017}} SLJ also recommended it "to enrich music classes".{{cite web |url=http://www.slj.com/2008/12/collection-development/focus-on-collection-development/legends-and-unsung-heroes-black-history-in-picture-books/ |title=Legends and Unsung Heroes: Black History in Picture Books |author=Joyce Adams Burner |date=December 1, 2008 |website=slj.com |publisher=Media Source Inc. |accessdate=February 19, 2017}}
God Bless the Child has also been reviewed by The Horn Book Magazine,{{cite web |url=https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/item/show/285079082_god_bless_the_child |title=God Bless the Child |quote=More gift book than picture book |website=kcls.bibliocommons.com |oclc=45230462 |accessdate=February 19, 2017}} Booklist,{{cite web |url=https://www.buffalolib.org/vufind/Record/1258677/Reviews#tabnav |title=God bless the child |quote=Here, Pinkney gives the words strength and a sense of possibility |website=Buffalo and Erie County Public Library |accessdate=February 19, 2017}} Publishers Weekly,{{cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-028797-9 |title=God Bless the Child |quote=Repeated viewings reveal an extraordinary level of detail and a visual and narrative movement that echoes the family's journey. |date=January 1, 2004 |website=Publishers Weekly |publisher=PWxyz LLC|accessdate=February 19, 2017}} Kirkus Reviews,{{cite web |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/billie-holiday/god-bless-the-child-3/ |title=God Bless The Child (starred review) |date=October 1, 2000 |quote=With Holiday’s music and Pinkney’s art, this package sets expectations high—and doesn’t disappoint. .. The evocative recording on the CD ends too quickly; there is much to pore over and discuss here, and this remarkable work is worth picking up (and listening to) more than once. |website=Kirkus Reviews |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |accessdate=February 19, 2017}}
It was awarded a 2005 Coretta Scott King Award illustrator honor.{{cite web |url=http://www.ala.org/emiert/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present |title=Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present |website=ala.org |date=5 April 2012 |publisher=American Library Association |accessdate=February 19, 2017}}
References
{{Portal|Children's literature}}
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:God Bless the Child (picture book)}}
Category:2003 children's books
Category:American picture books
Category:Picture books by Jerry Pinkney
Category:Children's books about African-American history