Freedom, We Sing

by Amyra Leon, Molly Mendoza (Illustrator)

"I wonder, then, what freedom is. Is it a place? Is it a thought? Can it be stolen? Can it be bought?"

As powerful as it is beautiful, Freedom, We Sing is a lyrical picture book designed to inspire and give hope to readers around the world. Molly Mendoza's immersive, lush illustrations invite kids to ponder singer/songwriter Amyra León's poem about what it means to be free. It's the perfect book for parents who want a way to gently start the conversation with their kids about finding hope in these very tense times we are living in.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Poetry, Family, Social Justice, Cultural, Feminism

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Lauren]

Gorgeous, timely, but so accessible.

With simple words and phrases in rhyme, FREEDOM WE SING is about what freedom means. To breathe is freedom and everyone wants to breathe in freedom. There are people from all over the world fighting for the chance to breathe free.

The words are beautiful, the illustrations are knock your socks off beautiful, and the message is beautiful.

[Michelle]

This book belongs in every classroom, in every library, in every home across the world.

[Lamyaa]

the art in this book is lovely to look at, the message is also beautiful, lots of representation of not just one ethnicity but incorporated ideas that there are lots of different types of people

[Khadeeja Idrissi Yahyaoui]

Amazing read, with a very inspirational message highlighting the beauty of difference

[ejona]

Beautifully written story paired with wonderful illustrations.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Kristin Guay]

Amyra León is a musician, activist, educator, and poet that injects passion and energy into her various projects--and her first children’s book is no exception. This book, written in a poetic form, is about freedom. The freedom to be who you are and to live in a world without violence, to not experience fear, and to protect your children.

The book uses a conversation between a mother and her young daughter as the medium for the topic of freedom. The mother explains that there are people around the world, just like them, wanting the same things in life. There might be children with different colors of skin, hair, interests, or language, but they all learn to walk, talk, dance and scream. She further explains that there are families, just like their family, that love their children very much and will do anything to protect them and keep them safe. This young girl then questions the definition of freedom. “Is it a place? Is it a thought? Can it be stolen? Can it be bought?” The little girl soon learns that it is her dreams that will give her freedom.

This is the type of picture book where the illustrations really push forward the message in the story. The bright graphics provided by Molly Mendoza show emotion, movement, and hope throughout the story. Reflection is seen when the mother and daughter look through pictures of family members, wonder is seen when a group of children gather around a hummingbird collecting nectar from a flower, determination is seen when parents and children search for a better life, and hope is seen when people realize that they have the power to fulfill their dreams and find freedom.

In doing a little research about the author, I found that Amyra León is a multi-talented woman who is very active in expressions on social inequality and healing as a community. As her bio states, “She believes that the art of listening and honest conversation are the primary tools for lasting change. Her aim is to empower communities to believe in the significance of their individual stories.”

[Doha]

This was one of the first books I read to my students at the beginning of the year. Children are very much aware of the social justice issues in the world - especially when they are directly affected. It is extremely important to have open discussions with young children about the challenges and oppressions that many people in the community face. After reading this with my students, we drew visual representations of what freedom means and students were able to gain a deeper understanding of their classmates perspectives. "Freedom We Sing" asks students to question the origins of freedom and brings to light a hope for what we can do ensure freedom for all.

I highly recommend adding this text in your classroom/children's libraries!

[Addie Stone]

"Freedom, We Sing" is a children's book that celebrates the power of collective voices and the pursuit of freedom. Through poetic language and vibrant illustrations, the book conveys a message of unity and strength that comes from standing together with others.

I loved this book because it encourages readers to embrace diversity, express themselves, and join together in harmony for a shared vision of a better world.

I would use this in my class as a starting point for a discussion on diversity and inclusion. Explore the different characters and elements in the book that represent diversity, and encourage students to share their own experiences.

[Sara]

Such a visually stunning book with brilliant text. The themes are accessible for younger readers, but what I really appreciated was the repetitive "inhale - exhale" moments in this book because not only do the reinforce mindfulness in the reader, but it gives the reader a moment to take a quick break to take in what they just read. Like taking little bites from huge ideas like freedom, equality, love, growth and other big life questions. Love love loved this!

[Alice Billington]

This book has the most beautiful illustrations, they practically burst out of the page and fill it with colour. A mother tells her daughter that she longs to find freedom in life and real happiness, repeating the words 'Inhale (…) Exhale'. This slows the story down for the reader and gets them to breathe in and out with the characters, feeling calmer and happier. The rhythmic tale is just gorgeous.

[Selena]

This is a beautiful book. I loved the rich, mural like illustrations, the relationship between the child and adult, the adults with one another, and the message of how to find freedom (essentially in the breath) is totally wonderful and useful as a gift to give children. Such a joyous and warm book for any time but would definitely find its place in a preschool or K-2 cultural diversity or me-and-my-emotions unit. Unfortunately, the four-year-old is so far uninterested, however.

[Alissa Tsaparikos]

This picture book is magnificently illustrated. It makes the reader really stop and look. The text is poetry, filled with deep thoughts and introspection, so this story would be better for elementary age children ready to discuss what they read with an adult. I like the repeated motif of "inhale, exhale" with the accompanied illustrations to so this movement. It would make a good addition in a unit on mindfulness and breathing.

[W]

Absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Lyrical story that is pretty vague about what exactly to hope in but asks thoughtful questions. I think as a Christian it can be easily used as a reference to hope in Jesus which if done gives the book more power. It also has lovely pages where you inhale and exhale with the illustrations, which I particularly liked, seems like a cool thing to teach all kids but particularly anxious kids.

[Jak Worton]

This would be a great book to begin discussions with young children about inequality in our world and what we can all do to help. The illustrations are fantastic. It shows that the art of listening and honest conversation are the primary tools for lasting change. The story promotes a message that we can all empower our communities to and will us to believe in the significance of our own individual stories

[Gabriela Suchecki]

Freedom, we sing by Amyra Leon is a very inspirational book. This book focuses on freedom and what it means. The mother and her child meditate on what is to be free. The book emphasizes what it means to be free, the theme of equality, togetherness and hope. Overall this book shows the concept of freedom. This book is intended for readers pre-k -1 grade level. I would read this book to my students during the read aloud session.

[Shariel Tucker]

Freedom, we sing is a children book that I believe was written to correlate with the struggles of our ancestor's past. It sheds light on the fact that our ancestors went through a lot to help us gain equality along with all the freedom and opportunities we have. Overall, I think the book was a great read for elementary school children and can help spark classroom conversations about what equality, freedom means, and help make them aware of how much times have changed.

[Isabel Jarvis]

Written as a piece of poetry which introduces lots of topics which can be discussed. Ideas not often talked about as candidly in picture books such as 'What is freedom? '. Lots of representation throughout. I think the illustration just wasn't my style but appreciate everything they managed to portray and liked some spreads more than others.

[Ed Ellis-Cooper]

A good book to get children to think about the world around them, understand what is happening around them and interpreting information. Overall message is about the feeling of freedom, how it feels, what it is? Good book to use with later KS2 to think about growing and developing by learning about the wider world. KS2

[Shanique Edwards]

This book is gorgeous! And I mean that literally. The art is so colorful and so beautiful.

And the story itself is also a beautiful one, distilling freedom down to its most basic form, and reminding us to breathe.

[Erin]

I really enjoy the calming aspect this book creates. After a few pages of poetic text and colorful illustrations, there is a spread with "Inhale" on one page and "Exhale" on the opposite. This happens several times and I love it!

Good for older kid or preschool storytimes.

[Tori]

A really uplifting story about us as individuals but how we are all connected. The illustrations are vibrant in their colours and are even more beautiful than the words. This would be a wonderful book to share with children and can be read again and again.

[Katherine Johnson]

"Freedom, We Sing" by Amyra Leon and Molly Mendoza is freedom! The book highlights freedom for me, freedom for you, and freedom for those who don't have freedom! The book also has fantastic illustrations of what freedom is and feels like.

[Meltem Osman]

The poetry and artwork are exquisite. A beautiful book for children and adults alike, one to return to over and over and notice new thoughts and have new conversations.

[Alix]

Gorgeous book with wonderful illustrations! Can wait to find many ways to incorporate talks of freedom, diversity and equality into my classroom!

[Rebecca Anne]

Gorgeous illustrations. A child talking about the differences in the world that her mama teachers her about, and the way we experience freedom is through breathing.

[Grace Steed]

This book is beautifully illustrated and reads in the style of spoken word. In the book a mother explains to her child how we are all connected and of the longing for freedom that so many feel.

[Pinky]

Freedom through breath and the right to be.

[Mel]

Just gorgeous

[Tracie]

What does freedom mean. The words, message and illustrations are perfection together.