CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 10, 1974
"In all, this is not quite the ideal format for a "first book of spirituals," but Bryan's illustrations have an emotional toughness not usually found in work for children — one which refutes, albeit not very subtly, the misconceived notion that spirituals are either submissive or sentimental."
Stark sobriety of mood and fluid overall design meet in Ashley Bryan's black and white prints which feature African people and motifs, often mixed with biblical subjects.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 21, 1971
"The simple style, large print, and handsome appearance make this an acceptable addition for younger readers, but there is no scarcity of fuller, more compelling, African collections."
The title story, which also appears in Kathleen Arnott's African Myths and Legends (1962) and is similar to the Irish "Billy Beg and the Bull," is accompanied here by four brief, moderately entertaining animal tales (one featuring the well-known Ananse the spider) and decorated with woodcuts in an emphatic African manner.
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