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Change Sings: a Children's Anthem
A lyrical picture book debut from Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman and illustrator Loren Long
“I can hear change humming
In its loudest, proudest song.
I don’t fear change coming,
And so I sing along.”
In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by inaugural Youth Poet Laureate and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves.
“I can hear change humming
In its loudest, proudest song.
I don’t fear change coming,
And so I sing along.”
In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by inaugural Youth Poet Laureate and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 21, 2021
70 people are currently reading
3547 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Gorman
26 books2,853 followersAmanda Gorman was the first Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. She is also an activist. Gorman's work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. In January 2021, she became the youngest poet to read at a presidential inauguration, reading her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of Joe Biden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 728 reviews
January 22, 2022
Wonderful book that poetically links social change with a song we all can sing. When we sing together our voice becomes stronger; so strong that eventually even those who do not want to hear will have to listen. Amanda Gorman offers a much needed message of hope in this beautifully illustrated story.
August 18, 2022
After watching Poet Laureate Amanda Gordon speak so eloquently at President Biden's (January, 21, 2021) inauguration I was mesmerized and an instant fan of this young, very talented wordsmith. Not to mention, only eight months prior (May, 2020), this impressive young woman had also just graduated from Harvard College.
Needless to say, when I saw she had written a soon to be published children's book I immediately preordered with plans of passing on to my friend's young son. The lyrical prose makes it a wonderful bedtime story for children and their loved ones to read together.
Loren Long's vivid and colorful illustrations are the perfect imagery as they seamlessly bring this powerful and timely book to life.
Amanda Gorman's 'Change Sings' is sure to delight both readers and nonreaders alike for generations to come. Simply put, this one gets my highest of accolades.
Needless to say, when I saw she had written a soon to be published children's book I immediately preordered with plans of passing on to my friend's young son. The lyrical prose makes it a wonderful bedtime story for children and their loved ones to read together.
Loren Long's vivid and colorful illustrations are the perfect imagery as they seamlessly bring this powerful and timely book to life.
Amanda Gorman's 'Change Sings' is sure to delight both readers and nonreaders alike for generations to come. Simply put, this one gets my highest of accolades.
August 6, 2022
Amanda Gorman is a national treasure and this is a lovely poem and I could see it inspiring children readers/listeners but it’s Loren Long’s illustrations that really shine in this book. They’re wonderful and they elevate and elaborate on the poem itself. Beautifully done and a gift worthy book for children of any age.
September 23, 2021
September 23, 2021 Update:
Poetry is best read aloud, especially if the work is written by Amanda Gorman. Seeing as this is a picture book though, I decided to listen to the audiobook while reading along (which I highly recommend doing)!
This was a fairly short picture book and audiobook (only 4 minutes long) but it was still packed with lyrical verses and gorgeous illustrations.
This is a poem about change (obviously) that uses music as a metaphor with accompanying artwork illustrating the many ways change can happen (ex. picking up garbage, helping others, etc.).
One of my favourite lines from this poem is:
Honestly, I can read this book over and over (and listen to Gorman read it over and over) and not get sick of it.
Also, can someone please turn this into a song?
September 21, 2021 Update:
Happy publishing day!!
January 14, 2021 Update:
We finally have a target publishing date (September 21, 2021) and you can now pre-order the book!
Honestly, I've become an even bigger fan of Gorman's work over the past few months and SEPTEMBER CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH! I'm also super excited that Gorman has been selected to be the official inaugural poet for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 😍. If this book wasn't on your radar before, it definitely will be after inauguration day.
August 20, 2020 Update:
Amanda Gorman is an incredible poet and just announced that she'll be publishing a book! I can't wait to read it!
I first came across Gorman in one of John Krasinski's Somegoodnews video in which she performs a beautiful commencement poem for the graduating class of 2020 (which you can also watch here). I've since followed her on Instagram and am so excited to read some of her published works!
You can see some of her work on her Instagram or on her Twitter.
I can hear change humming
In its loudest, proudest, song.
I don't fear change coming,
And so I sing along.
Poetry is best read aloud, especially if the work is written by Amanda Gorman. Seeing as this is a picture book though, I decided to listen to the audiobook while reading along (which I highly recommend doing)!
This was a fairly short picture book and audiobook (only 4 minutes long) but it was still packed with lyrical verses and gorgeous illustrations.
This is a poem about change (obviously) that uses music as a metaphor with accompanying artwork illustrating the many ways change can happen (ex. picking up garbage, helping others, etc.).
One of my favourite lines from this poem is:
I hum with a hundred hearts,
Each of us lifting a hand.
I use my strengths and my smarts,
Take a knee to make a stand.
Honestly, I can read this book over and over (and listen to Gorman read it over and over) and not get sick of it.
Also, can someone please turn this into a song?
September 21, 2021 Update:
Happy publishing day!!
January 14, 2021 Update:
We finally have a target publishing date (September 21, 2021) and you can now pre-order the book!
Honestly, I've become an even bigger fan of Gorman's work over the past few months and SEPTEMBER CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH! I'm also super excited that Gorman has been selected to be the official inaugural poet for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 😍. If this book wasn't on your radar before, it definitely will be after inauguration day.
August 20, 2020 Update:
Amanda Gorman is an incredible poet and just announced that she'll be publishing a book! I can't wait to read it!
I first came across Gorman in one of John Krasinski's Somegoodnews video in which she performs a beautiful commencement poem for the graduating class of 2020 (which you can also watch here). I've since followed her on Instagram and am so excited to read some of her published works!
You can see some of her work on her Instagram or on her Twitter.
March 5, 2022
How could I forget to review this? Well, there are lots of reasons, but none of them are because I didn't like the book. No, I loved it. I had barely started reading, right there in the store and got choked up. It's that beautiful. It could be a modern-day sketch in my beloved Free to Be...You and Me, which I read/listened to countless times.
My favorite lines:
We're what the world is becoming,
And we know it won't be long.
And it gives me hope that the generation previous to mine, and my own, will soon be superseded and the young people of today will make this a better world.
This is a lovely interactive Read-Along on Youtube: https://youtu.be/6KSdAHGMzLs
The illustrations by Loren Long are just beautiful, and, as I've come to love about children's picture books, give another layer of non-verbal storytelling, which is equally as profound as Amanda Gorman's, adding to the ways in which this is the most hopeful book I have read it quite a long time.
I've read it 3 times since that time in the store and every time have choked up or teared up in a different spot.
Read it yourself, read it to your kids or your grandkids. You won't regret it.
My favorite lines:
We're what the world is becoming,
And we know it won't be long.
And it gives me hope that the generation previous to mine, and my own, will soon be superseded and the young people of today will make this a better world.
This is a lovely interactive Read-Along on Youtube: https://youtu.be/6KSdAHGMzLs
The illustrations by Loren Long are just beautiful, and, as I've come to love about children's picture books, give another layer of non-verbal storytelling, which is equally as profound as Amanda Gorman's, adding to the ways in which this is the most hopeful book I have read it quite a long time.
I've read it 3 times since that time in the store and every time have choked up or teared up in a different spot.
Read it yourself, read it to your kids or your grandkids. You won't regret it.
September 27, 2021
A debut picture book that is written in lyrical form by Ms. Gorman.
If you don't know who Amanda Gorman is here's a brief intro: Ms. Gorman is a 22-year-old Harvard graduate. She was named the first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017. Her poetry focuses on social justice, feminism, and civil rights.
Most people probably know her from her performance of The Hill We Climb during the 2021 presidential inauguration. Or from the Super Bowl LV where she was the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl.
March 13, 2022
Written by Amanda Gorman and vividly illustrated by Loren Long, CHANGE SINGS: A CHILDREN’S ANTHEM is really an anthem for us all. Gorman is a poetess of our age and one that America sorely needs.
Instead of building walls, bridges are built. Instead of division, Gorman and Long use words and beautiful images to remind people that together, we are truly a united country. I particularly liked how Long included a diversity of people in this PB, including Jewish Americans, European Americans, disabled Americans, and etc.
I am a huge fan of Gorman, not just because of her poetry, but because of the message that she sends to the world. Gorman also helps young people to understand what is happening socially and clarifies what these mean. For example, in the PB, Gorman says, “Take a knee to make a stand.” This is excellent because Gorman and Long are showing young people that the act of taking a knee doesn’t mean that people don’t love the country; quite the opposite. People are protesting peacefully for change.
This PB is beautifully written and illustrated. I hope that people everywhere will take a seat (or a knee) and read it.
Instead of building walls, bridges are built. Instead of division, Gorman and Long use words and beautiful images to remind people that together, we are truly a united country. I particularly liked how Long included a diversity of people in this PB, including Jewish Americans, European Americans, disabled Americans, and etc.
I am a huge fan of Gorman, not just because of her poetry, but because of the message that she sends to the world. Gorman also helps young people to understand what is happening socially and clarifies what these mean. For example, in the PB, Gorman says, “Take a knee to make a stand.” This is excellent because Gorman and Long are showing young people that the act of taking a knee doesn’t mean that people don’t love the country; quite the opposite. People are protesting peacefully for change.
This PB is beautifully written and illustrated. I hope that people everywhere will take a seat (or a knee) and read it.
December 8, 2021
To me, five stars means everyone should read it. And yes, we all should. And even better than the "song" by Gorman here is the art by Long, imo. Lots of metaphors in both, but the art tells a story that is accessible even to young children and adults who 'don't like' books or poetry. I'd love to see a reading of this go viral on youtube, like Hair Love did. You can see Ms Gorman on this book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M00O9....
September 23, 2021
Can I give it 10 stars and is it okay that I'm moved to tears in the middle of the library?
September 25, 2021
Simply wonderful. I listened to the audio, which the author narrates, but also read the book. The illustrations are fabulous.
February 1, 2022
Absolutely beautiful.
December 27, 2023
Taking this book to my classroom! It's gorgeous 🥰
March 12, 2022
This is absolutely lovely, a strong, positive message of hope that all children deserve to hear. I borrowed this audiobook from my library and I'm so glad I did. It's short and sweet, but says so much. Read beautifully and with feeling, by the author.
September 25, 2021
Beautiful and artistic book about a little girl who inspires children, each unique, to use their voice (and instruments) to make change.
Loren Long's illustrations serve as a beautiful accompaniment to the text.
Loren Long's illustrations serve as a beautiful accompaniment to the text.
June 17, 2022
„Jesteś zmianą” i „Franek i Finka” to książki, które absolutnie idealnie nadają się na rozpoczęcie przygody z czytaniem u najmłodszych!
Dzieci mają moc! Obie te historie idealnie to pokazują! Pokochałam je całym serduszkiem 🥹
Chociaż drugi tom historii Franka I Finki jest moim pierwszym spotkaniem z twórczością Anety Jadowskiej, to już wiem, że muszę przeczytać pierwszy tom i koniecznie inne książki tej autorki!
Ogromnie Was zachęcam do sięgnięcia po „Jesteś zmianą” i „Franka i Finkę”! Przecudowne historie, z dziecięcymi bohaterami!
We współpracy z @wydawnictwozygzaki
January 17, 2022
This one is a 3.5 for me. Although I appreciate the sentiment expressed in this picture book and the idea that change is coming, I am not particularly a fan of the poetry. Yes, I know that I'm in the minority here, but some of the rhyming lines are just awkward, even/especially when read aloud. Ideas such as "I also walk our differences, / To show we are the same" (unpaged) are confusing to me since differences and similarities are not the same, and while there are commonalities among us, there are also clearly stark differences. The illustrations, created with acrylics and colored pencil, have much more appeal for me than the text since each page seems to invite readers to join in this song of change in whatever way they can--in voice, with an instrument, or even through helping hands or actions. The closing double-page spread shows the young narrator holding out a guitar so that whoever is listening can pluck a note and join in. My favorite image, though, is the double-page spread in which the narrator is holding out a trumpet to a boy whose hands are covering his ears as though to block out the sounds or whatever he doesn't want to hear. A fiercely protective hound stands by his side, protecting him from interlopers. Still, the young Black girl who is featured throughout the pages chooses to reach out. Since the illustrator has chosen a large panel for the artwork, each image is completed as a double-page spread, lending visual impact to the whole package. Thus, while casting doubt on some of the awkward lines, I celebrate this picture book for those marvelous images and the hopeful change described within.
March 1, 2022
“We all have song in us…singing the change we want to see. “
Amen again!🙌🏾
Amen again!🙌🏾
May 25, 2022
,,Jesteśmy zmianą” to piękna, wartościowa i pełna ciepła książka! Mówi o tolerancji, akceptacji i zmianach.
Uświadamia nam że każdy może coś zmienić i zmiany są ważne, są potrzebne i są okej. Nasza przeurocza główna bohaterka śpiewa przez całą historię, później przyłączają się do niej inne dzieci i muzyka jest wszędzie! Każdy może ją usłyszeć!
Tam gdzie są dzieciaki, tam coś zmieniają, pomagają, sprawiają że wszystko staje się lepsze i wierzą że możemy zmienić świat.
Bardzo polubiłam tą nietypową i orginalną powieść graficzna! Zdecydowanie książka idealna dla dzieci, ale również i dla starszych czytelników. Pozycja ma przepiękną kreskę, dosłownie Śliczna i bardzo szybko się ją czyta!
Uświadamia nam że każdy może coś zmienić i zmiany są ważne, są potrzebne i są okej. Nasza przeurocza główna bohaterka śpiewa przez całą historię, później przyłączają się do niej inne dzieci i muzyka jest wszędzie! Każdy może ją usłyszeć!
Tam gdzie są dzieciaki, tam coś zmieniają, pomagają, sprawiają że wszystko staje się lepsze i wierzą że możemy zmienić świat.
Bardzo polubiłam tą nietypową i orginalną powieść graficzna! Zdecydowanie książka idealna dla dzieci, ale również i dla starszych czytelników. Pozycja ma przepiękną kreskę, dosłownie Śliczna i bardzo szybko się ją czyta!
September 21, 2021
Beautifully written and even more beautifully illustrated 💗 A story of overcoming obstacles by working together to make a better world. Definitely glad I pre-ordered so I can have this in my classroom!
February 18, 2022
This is a stunningly illustrated version of Amanda Gorman's Change Sings, which features a young Black girl bringing musical instruments to members of her community, including reaching out to the poor and homeless, elderly and disabled, and in the process lifting them up and strengthening their community bonds.
Teachers, there is a plethora of free teaching resources for this book that make it easy to incorporate into your Social Studies or English classrooms, across all grades.
For links to the free lesson plans, visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, at amb.mystrikingly.com
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Teachers, there is a plethora of free teaching resources for this book that make it easy to incorporate into your Social Studies or English classrooms, across all grades.
For links to the free lesson plans, visit my blog, The Fabric of Words, at amb.mystrikingly.com
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
November 16, 2021
As I grow, it grows like seeds.
I am just what the world needs.
Amanda Gorman is inspiring. She is an artist of the written word. Her ability to manipulate words into just the right order to illicit a feeling - an energy and a visceral response in the reader - is nothing short of genius.
I listened to the audio, which the author narrates, several times. You must hear her read the words she writes - for she breathes life into the words and you can visually see and hear the picture come to life. We are blessed to live in an age that we can witness such genius in one so young. You feel as if she has lived ten lifetimes. I cannot get enough of this author, this poet. I wait anxiously to see what she does, next.
Plan, too, to read the hardback, as I hear the illustrations are wonderful. Recommend highly!
November 4, 2021
Me gusto bastante y al parecer la autora es alguien famoso en EUA, pero para ser un libro para niños siento que le falta algo un poco más divertido para ellos, aunque el mensaje, prosa e ilustraciones están muy chulas
September 27, 2021
What a lovely poem! I read the book and listened to the author read it.
September 28, 2021
Ugh, absolutely beautiful. I'm in love with the line "As I grow, it grows like seeds./I am just what the world needs." Won't lie, that gave me chills.
October 7, 2021
Really adorable book. The poem and illustrations are a perfect match. The poem is so uplifting.
October 28, 2021
Very nice. Amanda Gorman is a phenomenon.
December 6, 2021
I had my nephew read this aloud to me, and it was a 10/10 experience for us.
February 23, 2022
Amazing visuals, beautiful lines, and a message of great importance but feels accessible - all important things in a children’s book!!
September 26, 2021
Amanda Gorman for president!
February 2, 2022
A vivid picture book written by the Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman of the change that you want seen and sung.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 728 reviews