God Bless the Child

by Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr., Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)

"Mama may have, Papa may have, But God bless the child That's got his own! That's got his own."The song "God Bless the Child" was first performed by legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday in 1939 and remains one of her enduring masterpieces. In this picture book interpretation, renowned illustrator Jerry Pinkney has created images of a family moving from the rural South to the urban North during the Great Migration that reached its peak in the 1930s. The song's message of self-reliance still speaks to us today but resonates even stronger in its historical context. This extraordinary book stands as a tribute to all those who dared so much to get their own.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Poetry, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 23, 2003

About the author

Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter.

Nicknamed Lady Day by her sometime collaborator Lester Young, Holiday was a seminal influence on jazz, and pop singers' critic John Bush wrote that she "changed the art of American pop vocals forever." Her vocal style — strongly inspired by instrumentalists — pioneered a new way of manipulating wording and tempo, and also popularized a more personal and intimate approach to singing.

She co-wrote only a few songs, but several of them have become jazz standards, notably "God Bless the Child," "Don't Explain," and "Lady Sings the Blues."

Reviews

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated southern book in the medium of watercolor; there are heartwarming full page spreads of people of the time working different jobs. We can see African American slaves working in a cotton field at a plantation, children working as shoeshiners and freeman working at factories and industries for others more fortunate during the time. The story is actually a song written by Billie Holiday and we see a black child singing it with his harmonica.

[Mary Frazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Bless The Child was written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr. and Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. It was a Coretta Scott King book award winner in 2005. The story is based on a song written by Billie Holiday in 1939. She was a legendary jazz vocalist. There is not a lot of text. The plot of this book is about the Great Migration beginning around 1900 and continuing into the 1950s. There is an Artist's note in the back of the book explaining the history of when African Americans 'fled failing crops, exploitation, and unrealized dreams and unwavering hope for a better life'. Families struggled to find jobs, housing, and education. Education was 'a privilege of the wealthy.' Poor children worked alongside their parents. To these children, going to school would be a dream come true. Free public education was seen as an opportunity to climb out of poverty. A story such as this is important for children so that they learn the not always pleasant history of America. It reveals to them some of the struggle of African Americans in this country. It also gives them a new perspective on how fortunate they are to have a childhood and to be able to go to school. Pinkney paints watercolor pictures of vintage photographs he has collected documenting the lives of African Americans over the past one hundred fifty years. I think he uses realism and expressionism in his beautiful artistic style. He alternates between panels, white space, and full-page color spreads, just like in The Lion and The Mouse. The illustrations are stunningly realistic. They tell a sometimes-sad story, such as in the picture of the children working in the fields with their parents. But Sometimes a story about togetherness and joy, such as the picture of the family sitting around the living-room singing and playing instruments together. The book also comes with a cd of the song “Bless This Child,” by Billie Holiday. I loved this book. The pictures are beautiful and the history is important to be remembered.

[A'Niye Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

God Bless the Child, based on the song by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr., was adapted into a folklore children’s book with illustrations by Jerry Pinkney, earning the Coretta Scott King Award in 2005. The story uses Holiday’s lyrics to explain the struggles and resilience of African American families during the Great Migration. The protagonist is an African American family who faces economic problems, modeling themes of survival and hope. There’s no direct antagonist, but the trials and tribulations of poverty and systemic oppression can be the problem working against the characters. There is a total of 21 pages. Every page is also double-spread, which is very eye-pleasing and one of my favorite things about the book. The media used for this book is unknown but the colors and design have a 1960s theme. My favorite illustrations are on pages nine and ten. This shows the family packing and loading their car up. The faces shown look a little nervous about the move but you can see the parents motivating them to have determination as they journey towards a new life. Another one of my favorite illustrations is on pages twenty-five and twenty-six. This shows family members handing out, and a few are playing musical instruments while the others listen and have a good time. This reminds me of Black culture and the way we use music to escape while also reminding me of my own family. Overall, this was a good book I enjoyed reading and hope to add to my future classroom library.

[Brianna Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about as it has a song by Billie Hollidae attached to it. The story talks about being poor but all you need is gods love. The pictures really help bring to life the music/ song lyrics that is written throughout the pages of this book. It seems to be placed back in history maybe around the great depression era or so and how god is there for you even though you might not have much to go around. I think this book has a beautiful message to it that no matter what you have someone looking out for you and loving you. The pictures in the book help set the story of a low/impoverished area and time and bring forth the powerful words.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the lyrics from the Billie Holiday song with the same title. The book is illustrated by Jerry Pinkney with gorgeous full 2-paged (many wordless) spreads. In the back there's a lengthy artist's note explaining the collection of vintage photographs of people of African descent and history of the Great Migration. A great deal of time was spent working with library and museum staff members to dig up photographs, during the research period for this book. I would say it was time well spent! It's no surprise that this book was awarded a Coretta Scott King Honor.

[Kai Xavier-Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

God Bless the Child by Billie Holiday is a picture book that uses the lyrics of her famous song. The story shows a family's journey to a better life during a hard time in history. The pictures by Jerry Pinkney are full of emotion and detail. This book is a powerful way to learn about hope, strength, and the meaning of the song.

[Ashtin Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome. Using Billie Holiday’s lyrics as the text, it tells a powerful story of Black history. The illustrations walk through generations, from slavery to the Great Migration, and they’re seriously moving. It’s not really a traditional story, so younger readers might need context, but it hits hard emotionally. A beautiful tribute that makes the music come alive visually.

[Savana Cervantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's songs -- United States -- Texts.
Spirituals (Songs)
Songs.

[Victoria Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good children book

[Phil J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative illustrations alongside the lyrics to the song. Includes a CD. I appreciate Jerry Pinkney's author's note, in which he explains his process of studying old photographs and researching.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures illustrating the classic song with art representing the Great Migration.

[Emily Flanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, I realized that it was actually based off a popular song by Billie Holiday, which I thought was cool. The pictures and illustrations really give us some background on the song itself and how The Great Migration of The 1930's created it's own unique set of cultures and communities within different cities. That saying, this book would be a great supplement to lessons on The Great Migration and African American History in general.

[Katie Harder · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, who doesn’t love Billie Holiday, anyway? I was thrilled, thrilled to find a children’s book illustrated to a Holiday song, and this book in no way disappointed me. “God Bless the Child” is a late Depression-era classic that resonates in our own Great Recession era, especially in lyrics such as the opening “Them that’s got shall get/Them that’s not shall lose/So the Bible said/And it still is news.” The beautifully rendered illustrations are both realistic and impressionistic, giving the reader the impression of dusty, but authentic nostalgia and allowing the reader to relate without too much acute anguish. These pictures guide us through the song, which follows a 40s-era black American family as they struggle through the difficult economic period. Symbolic references add interest for older readers: for example, at the start of the book we watch one of the young boys chase after a Monarch butterfly (a symbol of change and beauty) while his family works the field. This image echoes the story’s plot: the family chases after better, beautiful things – the promise of the Great Migration – but the monarch is a symbol of death, too, and likewise, the Great Migration isn’t as great as the family hopes. However, the strength of the family is emphasized here, and while the family doesn’t find wealth in the city, the family is proud, industrious, and together, and that is what matters. It’s the last two pages that let you know you have a happy ending – the young boys are carefully groomed under the watchful eye of there mother, and then are deposited in school, the wonderfully freely available schools, at a time when education was still considered a luxury of the wealthy.

[Zahava Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

God Bless the Child is about 30 pages long with a stanza on each page. The words of the poem were originally a song from around 1940, making it a unique poem. The illustrations really carry the poem by interpreting it and putting a story behind it through pictures. The drawing are very detailed and realistic depictions of the daily lifestyle of a black family in that time period all drawn with colored pencil of some kind. The poem talks about a child who can be self-reliant and "get his own." While the illustrations depict a family who migrates north, due to the conditions for black people. I really enjoyed the fact that the book doesn't have a lot of explicit detail and leaves it up for the reader's interpretation.

This book would be a great addition to a unit of black culture and history. An interesting way I could see myself using it would be with older elementary students and asking them to interpret what story they think the illustrations are telling then write their own continuation of the poem. I know that I didn't fully understand the whole meaning of it until I looked it up, so it would be interesting to see what a classroom of students thought of it.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrator Jerry Pinkney paid tribute to Billy Holiday’s classic song and its historical context by creating an illustrated book featuring the lyrics to Billy Holiday’s song, God Bless the Child. While the true meaning behind the song and the illustrated book may be lost to younger readers, this book has wonderful pictures that favor a realistic style.

The person reading this story to a toddler has many options to make it a good experience for the child. The book comes with a CD featuring Billie Holiday singing the song. This CD can be played while looking at the pictures or the reader can sing along with it while looking at the pictures. The reader and the toddler can also discuss the many things going on in the pictures.

Having the option to listen to a song or sing a song while reading a book provides a rich experience for toddlers. They can appreciate the beauty of the song and the beauty of the pictures, while experiencing some rare exposure to traditional music.

[Marsha Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Fiction Book Review
God Bless the Child By: Billy Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr. (Y782, 4216)

I picked some of the best children’s literature written. I give this book five stars because it was depicted wonderfully. The book’s title is based on a song that Billy Holiday sang in 1939. The illustrations depicted the south in the 1930’s. The theme of the song as well as the book is about self reliance. It’s a source of encouragement to those struggling to gain independence.

The only words in this book are the words of the song God Bless the Child. The most important parts are the illustrations. The illustrator spent many hours researching the Great Migration which took place during the 1900’s -1950’s. He also had the pleasure of interviewing some of the migrators for first hand information.

I would probably use it in 2nd-5th grade during Black History Month. I suggest older children because the majority of the book needs to be explained.

[Tara Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd -5th grade (listening)
The large book displays some memorable illustrations that cover both pages. No detail is neglected, the pictures protray the time period. The text is a little hard to follow, since they do not use proper English. I think this has a good child appeal since most probably don't know much about the Great Migration.

Social Studies/Music

Do a lesson on the Great Migration

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jerry Pinkney illustrator study
This book is simply the lyrics to the classic Billie Holliday song, God Bless The Child. The illustrations by Jerry Pinkney are like snapshots taken of a family's relocation from the south up to Chicago in the '30s. It is these illustrations that bring home the emotions and events that could follow a family during this time. One way such a book can be used in the classroom is to have students illustrate a song.

[Lauralee Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty cool, especially when listening to the song on the CD that came with the book while looking at the pictures. The illustrations in the book do a good job of explaining what the lyrics might mean but also give a great example of what life might have been like back in the 1930's for African American families. Definitely one I would recommend.

[Celina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations to a great song, about the "Great Migration" from the rural south to Chicago

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of the text, although the story is nice. Excellent pictures--they tell the whole story. Calming colors. Realistic illustrations. Coretta Scott King Illustrator honor book.

[Emilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations truly speaks of the African American culture.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looooove Billie Holliday, so naturally I had to read this book when I found out about it. A well researched and beautifully illustrated book about the Great Migration of the 1930s.

[Janna Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Illustrations are beautiful! This would be great to play the song with the book and show students connection between music, reading and art.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book with cd. The pictures are quite good. Not my favorite book- only slightly entertaining.

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing illustrations! !!

[Ariel Rudicel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such great illustrations inthis book! The details are great and children will really enjoy them.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

2005 CSKing Illustrator Honor


multiple pages without lyrics, lends itself to wonderful interactive moments with child and reader.

[Regina Smoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Kevin Denizard · Rating 4 out of 5]

1)No Awards
2)3rd to 4th grade

3)This book is based on a song by a Jazz performer that follows the story of a family that moves from the South to the North in the 1930's.

4) The illustration used by the book is very detailed and is also colorful with a mostly brown background .

5) I would't really read this book in my class because of the many bible references. Although, during black history month it becomes a maybe