We Could Fly
We Could Fly by Rhiannon Giddens is a picture book published by Candlewick Press in 2023, featuring 40 pages in English. This enchanting story follows a young girl who, inspired by a sparrow, experiences a yearning for freedom and connection to her heritage. Through the narrative, Giddens explores themes of grace and transcendence, drawing on the rich tapestry of African folklore and the shared experiences of generations.
Readers will find a heartfelt dialogue between a mother and daughter that emphasizes love, resilience, and the importance of cultural memory. The book incorporates elements of juvenile fiction, focusing on social themes such as prejudice and racism within the context of the United States. Acclaimed artist Briana Mukodiri Uchendu’s illustrations complement the text, enhancing the emotional depth of this moving tale.
Official synopsis Publisher
A Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award Winner
“This magical picture book will have readers entranced. Sublime.”–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
In a companion to Build a House, Rhiannon Giddens–winner of multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize and cofounder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops–gives wing to a moving tale of grace and transcendence, with acclaimed artist Briana Mukodiri Uchendu.
At a sparrow’s urging, a young girl feels a mysterious trembling in her arms, a lightness in her feet, a longing to be free. Her mother tells her that her Granny Liza experienced the same, as did many of their people before her. Perhaps it’s time, Mama says, to slip the bonds of earth and join the journey started long ago. To hold each other tight and rise. Drawing on lyrics from the song “We Could Fly” by Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell, which in turn draw on a heritage of African folklore, this incantatory dialogue between a mother and daughter paired with startlingly beautiful illustrations celebrates love, resilience, and the spiritual power of the “old-time ways”–tradition and shared cultural memory–to sustain and uplift.
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