African: A Children's Picture Book (LyricPop)

African: A Children's Picture Book (LyricPop)

Peter Tosh, Rachel Moss (Illustrator)
$16.95
Publication Date: June 2nd, 2020
Publisher:
Akashic Books, Ltd.
ISBN:
9781617757990
Pages:
32
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Description

An AALBC Recommended New Book!

Included in Publishers Weekly's Children's Galleys to Grab at Winter Institute!

A beautiful children's picture book featuring the lyrics of Peter Tosh's global classic celebrating children of African descent.


So don't care where you come from

As long as you're a black man, you're an African

No mind your nationality

You have got the identity of an African

African is a children's book featuring lyrics by Peter Tosh and illustrations by Jamaican artist Rachel Moss. The song "African" by Peter Tosh was originally released in 1977 on his second solo record, Equal Rights. He wrote the song during a time of civil unrest in Jamaica as a reminder to all black people that they were part of the same community. The album is considered one of the most influential reggae works of all time.

  • A key song from the classic 1970s era of reggae
  • Peter Tosh was one of the founding members of the iconic reggae group the Wailers

About the Author

RACHEL MOSS is an illustrator in love with the bright colors and vibrant energy of the Caribbean. She was born in Jamaica and studied animation in England at the University for the Creative Arts. Moss now lives in Jamaica where she spends her days illustrating children’s books such as Respect with song lyrics by Otis Redding, These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ with song lyrics by Lee Hazlewood, African with song lyrics by Peter Tosh, I Am a Promise by Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Abigail’s Glorious Hair, and Milo & Myra Learn Manners with Mr. Mongoose. Her latest work is Lean on Me with song lyrics by Bill Withers.

Praise for African: A Children's Picture Book (LyricPop)

"The joyful illustrations depict young and older black people of various colors, with many different hairstyles and wearing an array of clothing styles, playing, riding, dancing, and walking...The dynamic art and text work together to form a loving ode to belonging for black people of the diaspora."

--Kirkus Reviews

"[A] survey of Tosh's repertoire reminds us that his best works were distinctive and impactful. When the Wailers were first starting their careers at Studio One, Tosh voiced boastful classics...When the Wailers launched their own label in 1968, Tosh became the Stepping Razor, adapting a song written by the Wailers' harmony coach, Joe Higgs, and when the trio began working with visionary producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry, he recorded '400 Years,' one of the most moving explorations of the historical injustices of slavery and its lingering aftermath...His Legalize It album was far ahead of its time in demanding the decriminalization of marijuana in 1975, while Equal Rights reminded that peace will never come without justice...[He was] one of reggae's most fiery and controversial performers, whose work remains relevant."

--Guardian

"Tosh's first two solo records, Legalize It and Equal Rights, are not just two of the best reggae records ever, but also two of the finest records of the '70s, period. They were inventive and deeply catchy records full of songs that could be as playful as they were defiant. Peter Tosh was always outspoken, always the rebel, but it was the way he said things--that honeyed voice, those brilliant and subtly intricate compositions--that set him apart."

--PopMatters

"A beautiful children's picture book."

--Vermont Country Sampler

"'African' is a wonderful song, and turning it into an appreciation of the African diaspora, for kids, is a...spectacular idea."

--Counterpunch

"The joyful illustrations depict young and older black people of various colors, with many different hairstyles and wearing an array of clothing styles, playing, riding, dancing, and walking...The dynamic art and text work together to form a loving ode to belonging for black people of the diaspora."

--Kirkus Reviews

"Magnificent, colorful, vibrantly illustrated."

--Exclusive Magazine

"These are all songs you would hear on the radio, beautifully illustrated to share their song-stories, ideas, and cultural heritage with your children."

--Sing Books with Emily

"Gorgeous...such a fun read!"

--Two Lights Academy

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