I Live in Music: Poem

by Ntozake Shange

Book by Shange, Ntozake; Edited By Linda Sunshine, Illustrated by Paintings By Romare Bearden

Genres: Poetry, Music, Art, Picture Books, Childrens, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Ntozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) was an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.

Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.

Reviews

[Cara Byrne]

As part of the Stewart, Tabori & Chang's Art and Poetry series, editor Linda Sunshine and designer Eric Baker pair Shange's lyric poem "i live in music" with Romare Bearden's powerful abstract art that illustrates the spirit and complexity of the African American jazz scene to create a children's picture book. As Shange is still living and Bearden passed away in 1988, thinking about issues of authorship and intentionality as these works of art and poetry are put in conversation for the youngest readers are interesting to consider. I really enjoy this work, and my favorite of Bearden's paintings include the back cover's "Theresa" (1987) and p. 22-3's "Vanity Suite" (nd).

[Sephire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful poetry!! This is a great book from the African American culture where the author expresses many different types of music a person experiences. Good book!

[Mary Catz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a favorite book and one I frequently re-read. It serves as a refreshing break, focusing on things I love: music, art/color, and poetry. The book is hardcover, well-designed and published in the style of a children's picture book, with beautifully reproduced artwork by Romare Bearden. Being a short poem, I can spend whatever amount of time I want to read it. I share Ntozake Shange's feelings about music and always get something new when reading this poem and looking at Bearden's artwork. It is one book that always leaves me feeling uplifted! I have given this book as a gift to friends who feel similarly.

[Shonda Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The artwork is amazing and it was fun to get introduced to another one of Ntozake Shange’s poem. I think I liked this one more than my son. This book would be a great coffee table book.

Shonda Moore

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the words, but it was Bearden’s paintings that will linger.

[Jamice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous poem and stunning illustration

[Bonita · Rating 5 out of 5]

One poem, I still hear her voice. This poem was tacked to my work cubicle to remind me where I came from, to remind me I am worthy, to remind me the Nzotake sang for all Black girls.

[Philomena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning blend of art and word. A gorgeous experience of sight and sound. It must be read aloud to the blues.

[Kim Stroberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about Romare Bearden and Jazz music.

[KD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful rendition of Shange's poem, with paintings by Romare Bearden.

[Stephanie Borges Folarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be added to the Future Folarin Progeny library.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book. cool take on the illustrations