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About the book
"Change Sings: A Children's Anthem" by Amanda Gorman is a beautifully written and illustrated children's book that spreads a message of hope, resilience, and change. This book is a perfect way to introduce young children to the power of poetry and the importance of creating a better future.
The rhyming couplets and vivid imagery in Amanda's poems transport the reader to a world where anything is possible. The illustrations by Loren Long perfectly complement the poems and bring Amanda's words to life.
One of the standout features of "Change Sings" is its powerful message of hope and resilience. The book encourages children to dream big, speak up, and never give up in the face of adversity. It is a perfect way to inspire the next generation to become change-makers and make a positive impact on the world.
The story opens with a small black child strumming her guitar and listening to “change humming/ In its loudest, proudest song.” She dreams of change coming, and we, the reader, follow her as she meets other talented young musicians who join her band.
First, she comes across a boy with a tuba, and together they clean litter from a playground. Then they give food to a woman and her child, and as the sun sets, they bring groceries to an elderly woman. They find another young man, who at first isn’t accepting of their cause, but through kindness, they convince him to take up a trumpet and join their ensemble.
Next, they build a wheelchair ramp for a girl who plays the drums, and afterward, they find a basketball player who knows his way around a trombone. They stop to clean the sidewalk in front of the City Market before rounding out their group with a small tambourine player.
At the very end, their good deeds inspire a city, and they invite us to “sing along” with the coming change.
Overall, "Change Sings: A Children's Anthem" is a must-read for anyone looking to inspire and encourage young readers in their lives. Amanda Gorman and Loren Long have created a beautiful and empowering work that will stay with readers for years to come.
About the author and illustrator
Amanda Gorman was honored as the 2017 National Youth Poet Laureate and 2020 Presidential Inaugural Poet Laureate. She is known for her quick rhythm, vivid metaphors, and allusions to contemporary society in the United States.
She was born in Los Angeles, California, and she began her writing career early in her life. Her mother, a 6th-grade English teacher, encouraged her to read and write at a young age. Gorman enrolled in the WriteGirl program when she was in the ninth grade, which provided her with mentorship in her poetry career.
After high school, she attended Harvard University where she earned a degree in sociology and graduated with cum laude honors in 2020. Since then, she has published numerous books and poetry collections, including the New York Times best-selling poem, “The Hill We Climb,” which she read at President Joe Biden’s inaugural address in 2020.
Loren Long is a New York Times best-selling illustrator, creator of the iconic picture book character, Otis, and illustrator of President Barack Obama’s picture book “Of Thee I sing.”
Long began his career at the University of Kentucky, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in graphic design. He worked as a greeting card designer before becoming a freelance illustrator for children’s books. Later, he was hired by Simon & Schuster, where he garnered critical acclaim. He has since worked for numerous publishers and has won many awards for his best-selling picture books.
About ReDefiners World Languages
ReDefiners is a pioneering non-profit organization with the goal of developing a compassionate community of global citizens, who are both economically and socially responsible, through world language and cultural enrichment. Education in global communication is paramount in developing cognitive skills, creating opportunities for upward mobility, and establishing a foundation to excel in an ever-increasing globalized society.
We strive to provide local language learning opportunities in Arabic, English, Spanish, and Mandarin through our enrichment programs to youth and adults, regardless of socioeconomic background.
Our programs target children in grades k-5, along with their caregivers, in the Tampa Bay area and through virtual learning with a mission of promoting social change, creating equity in educational opportunities, providing a competitive advantage to youths and adults, and developing multilingual global citizens with an understanding and respect for different cultures.