Sing, Aretha, Sing! // Aretha Franklin, Respect, and the Civil Rights Movement

A young Aretha Franklin captivates her community with the song “Respect” during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, in this striking picture book biography that will embolden today’s young readers to sing their own truth.

When Aretha Franklin sang, she didn’t just sing…she sparked a movement. As a performer and a civil rights activist, the Queen of Soul used her voice to uplift freedom fighters and the Black community during the height of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Her song “Respect” was an anthem of identity, survival, and joy. It gave hope to people trying to make change. And when Aretha sang, the world sang along.

With Hanif Abdurraqib’s poetic voice and Ashley Evans’s dynamic illustrations,Sing, Aretha, Sing!demonstrates how one brave voice can give new power to a nation, and how the legacy of Aretha Franklin lives on in a world still fighting for freedom.

Hanif Abdurraqibis a poet, essayist, and cultural critic. His work has been published inTheNew York Times, The New Yorker, Pitchfork, PEN American, Muzzle, andVinyl. He is the author of multiple books, includingThey Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, which was named a book of the year byBuzzfeed,Esquire, andNPR, among others; andGo Ahead In The Rain: Notes To ATribe Called Quest, aNew York TimesBestseller and Kirkus Prize nominee. He lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Ashley Evansis an artist, and the illustrator of the popular picture bookWelcome to the Partyby Gabrielle Union. When she’s not creating art, you can find her decorating cakes, enjoying time with her family or catching a much-needed nap. Born and raised in Queens, she now lives in Charlotte, NC with her family.

• Publisher:Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (December 28, 2021)
• Language:English
• Hardcover:40 pages
• ISBN-10:0374313458
• ISBN-13:9780374313456
• Reading age:4 – 8 years
• Grade level:1 – 2
• Item Weight:1.74 pounds
• Dimensions:9 x 11 inches
• Alt: Sing Aretha Sing