Clap Your Hands: A Celebration of Gospel

by Toyomi Igus, Michele Wood (Illustrator), CeCe Winans (Foreword)

Clap Your Hands is an inspirational, joyous celebration of poetry, art, and rhythm, tracing the history of African American gospel music and the poets, singers, and thought leaders who have fearlessly and soulfully contributed to the spiritual and social evolution of America. This powerful and poetic read bursts with vibrant artwork and is rich in personal notes and information that will interest any history buff or music enthusiast.

Created by the dynamic author and illustrator team of Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood, winners of the Coretta Scott King Award for I See the Rhythm, Clap Your Hands shares the Black history behind gospel music that has courageously broken all color barriers, influencing both worship and popular culture in America for hundreds of years. Clap Your Hands is great for children ages 4 to 8. Inside, you’ll

Notes from the author and the illustrator sharing their personal inspirations and influences, as well as their research on the roots and evolution of gospel music

Historical notes about the events covered in the book, exploring the cultural importance of gospel music throughout history

Further reading section, discography, and discussion questions to encourage learning and engagement

A running timeline of all historical milestones—from the first slaves to President Obama’s inauguration

Readers of all ages will be captivated by this informative and inspirational blend of poetry, art, and music that honors gospel music and reflects its journey.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, History

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2019

About the author

Toyomi Igus has had a rich and varied writing and communications career. Born Toyomi Lynn Gibson in Iowa City, Iowa, the first child of four from her African American father and Japanese mother, she grew up in Buffalo, New York, and went on to college at Barnard College, Columbia University. After college Igus dove into consumer and trade magazine publishing as an acquiring editor and managing editor, and then on into academic book publishing, revamping and managing the publications unit of the Center for African American Studies at UCLA. Under her editorship, the press produced several books on the African diaspora, including Wilfred Cartey’s Whispers from the Caribbean, Trevor Purcells’ Banana Fallout: Class, Color and Culture Among West Indians in Costa Rica, and the final volume of St. Clair Drake’s Black Folk Here and There. While at UCLA, Igus co-wrote, edited and curated Life in a Day of Black L.A., a collection of photographs of contemporary African-American life by Southern Californian black photographers, a traveling exhibition and book.

Igus published her first children’s book in 1991. To date she has authored six children books, including When I Was Little and Great Women in the Struggle (Just Us Books); Going Back Home (Childrens’ Book Press), winner of the American Book Award and the Skipping Stones Honor, and I See the Rhythm (Childrens’ Book Press), winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, Multicultural Children�s Book Award, and the Jane Addams Picture Book Award, and her very personal Two Mrs. Gibsons (Childrens’ Book Press), which remains on educational recommended book lists around the country.

Reviews

[Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. The illustrations are outstanding and the text will entertain everyone from toddlers to adults. The history of African-American gospel music is explored in-depth and I learned quite a bit. The book is informative enough to use to build a fun lesson. Highly recommended!

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clap your Hands to the rhythm. Clap your hands to the rhythm of Africa, the motherland of humanity. I see the rhythm of my people, land and sprint in harmony.


Clap Your Hands presents African-American history through the evolution of gospel music from the beginning of slavery to present day. Each page from start to finish is illustrated with vibrant colors of the African culture. A timeline is on the bottom of each page with significant changes, acts of violence, and times of hope. Gospel music brings hope to all people. The history of Gospel music was born of oppression and evil men.

This is a good resource and the hope that it gives in gospel words to everyone. It is meant to be shared with your family. It begins in our own hearts and applied to our homes to reach our world for change.

There's no justice, no peace for us.. not yet. We all bleed the same. So tell me why, tell my why. We're divided Love will prevail. I see the rhythm of a world that's free so let's clap our hands to those rhythms created for you and me EQUALLY

A Special Thank you to Zonderkidz and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fasinating history of gospel and how it has evolved with Black history. From its begingings with the Black enslaved people brought from Africa, to the present day gospel.

A timeline is included with each step of the way, with context to understand any of the shifts in gospel singing, and how it has endured since Black people were forced to come to America.

This is a revised edition, with more current history. There is a section in the back with more detail about each era of music.

Fascinating look at the evolution of this music genre, and how much it means to the people who sing it.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Vonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shares the history of black gospel music. It includes a timeline of important events that influenced the creation of gospel music from the year 1485 to the present. Gospel music has always emanated from the hardships that African Americans and Black Americans have faced.

Interspersed with the timeline of events are beautiful poems and rich cultural illustrations depicting times of suffering and joy. You will read about Harriet Tubman, Richard Allen, minister of the first independent black denomination, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Mahalia, The Little Rock 9, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, the Azusa Street Revival led by Pastor Seymour, Louis Armstrong, Thomas Dorsey, the Winans family, The Tuskegee Institute and the Tuskegee Airmen, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sam Cooke and more recent urban gospel and rap artists such as Kirk Franklin, Mandisa, Lecrae, and others.

I will share a piece of the beautiful poetry. Slaves were not allowed to have their own churches, so they gathered in the woods to sing praise to God. “Mama sang....

“Glory!” she says and “Glory!” we repeat and repeat
as our souls fill with song and rise to greet the heavens,
the one place where we belong.”

This book is best suited for Junior High and up, though the illustrations are colorful and beautiful and might appeal to children, the amount of detailed information covered and the mature content of some of the historical events, such as lynchings, make it better suited for an older audience. Adults will find much beauty to explore in the illustrations and poetry.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clap Your Hands is a beautifully illustrated book on the history of gospel music. Using poetry to tell the story, and incorporating extra facts and a continuous timeline throughout, this book covers gospel history in a way that makes gospel central to Black history in the USA and that makes Black history central to gospel music. This is one of those books that you can't help but be entranced by. The history is thorough, the poetry is engaging, and the illustrations are a high point.

Christianity is obviously a core component of gospel music, so it is expected that it plays a large role here. I definitely felt like it wasn't interested including Black history that was more attached to other faiths though, which left the timeline feeling a touch incomplete. I suspect that Black children from families of other faiths will feel less included in the USA's Black history and more proselytized to than anything.

I would recommend this book to kids interested in gospel music, music in general, or Black history in general. I'd also recommend it for parents looking to share these things with their kids.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of Gospel music intertwines with the history of Black people in America. The poems are o.k., sometimes capturing the rhythms of the music they describe, but sometimes awkward and a bit forced. However, the illustrations are what make this book rise to the top. Full of movement like the music, filled with symbolism, they will captivate readers. A historical timeline and sidebar explanations help place the music in its historical context. The end matter includes a discography, various notes and a book list for further reading. This book that honestly shows the injustices experienced by Black Americans while also expressing faith and joy is recommended for readers of all ages.

[Educator · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the name of the book I immediately thought of John P. Kee's song, Clap your hands. This book takes you on a narrative and visual journey. The art, facts, words and poetry follow the Africans captured as slaved to the shore of America, and the struggles they face there. You will cry and laugh. You will experience sorrow and joy. Every household should have a copy of this book. I hope it is also placed within the African American museum.

[Cara BookShelfMomma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars. Thank you for the gifted copy in exchange for a review. It didn’t hold my 7 year olds attention. However I think there is such rich history presented and the illustrations are amazing.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an F&G at ALA Midwinter 2020.

[Lupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The rhythm, the timeline, the illustrations, the bibliography - all of it! I hope more people buy this book AND the CD. I read the NetGalley version.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to treasure, teach, and reread often. Ideal for reading with children and ready for the classroom shelf.

[Book Buying With Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art, excellent recommended discography list at the end, and loved the timeline down at the bottom of the pages that took us both through black music history AND black history.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

5+ stars for the illustrations. 3 stars for the text, it has good info, but I think it could've been edited down to make more of an impact.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful verses and an informative timeline paired with some brilliantly vibrant illustration makes this a unique and definite "must have" addition to a library shelf.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clap Your Hands: A Celebration of Gospel is a beautiful picture book featuring vibrant illustrations of moments in African American History and in particular, the history of gospel music. The text is comprised of poetry by Toyomi Igus highlighting different eras of gospel music history. The book also has a timeline running throughout that shows significant moments in African American History.

This is a great book if you are looking to educate your child or yourself about gospel music. I also like that it included a list of recommended music at the end of the book. This book is good for 4th grade or older. There is a lot of information in this book and it might be best to go through it an era at a time so that you can discuss the history of that era and perhaps listen to some of the recommended tracks.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.