STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual

This musical picture book brings history and community to life. In the first part, author Carole Boston Weatherford's bright voice lets her words shine over unobtrusive inspirational music. Weatherford's steady rhythmic delivery of the repeated phrase "standing in the need of prayer" creates a tone of urgency that drives the stories of Black struggles and victories throughout American history. A resources section fills in more historical details. Against a hymnal piano background, an author's note explains the tradition of spirituals and Weatherford's personal connections to them. Finally, Weatherford lifts her voice in song, performing her book a second time over a spare percussive arrangement, with hand claps conjuring up the congregation. This powerful and insightful experience will spark curiosity in listeners. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]