Starred Review for Publishers Weekly (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

A boy's passion for drumming literally saves lives in this uplifting tale, completed in 1983 and published posthumously—the only children's book that Bearden (1911–1988) both wrote and illustrated. Li'l Dan, whose parents "were sold away when I was most young," loves to hear Mr. Ned play the drum, which the man's father brought from Africa. Mr. Ned teaches Dan to drum, "just the way he had learned from his father," and the boy sets out to make one of his own. Generous white space sets off intimate black line drawings with bold watercolor wash, as Mr. Ned compliments Dan on the drum he made and as Dan communes with the birds and leaves, imitating the sounds they make. In stark contrast, a full-page painting of Li'l Dan gazing over a vast land after the Union soldiers inform him he is free ("What do that mean?" asks the boy) simultaneously evokes a feeling of being overwhelmed and also of possibility. The artwork is more narrative here than in Bearden's illustrations for Herschel Johnson's <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">A Visit to the Country; only a very few compositions incorporate collage elements. Here the artist favors simplicity, keeping readers closely involved in the interactions between Dan and Mr. Ned—and ultimately the soldiers who adopt him as their "mascot," and whose lives he saves with an act of ingenuity... and his drum. This story will appeal to history buffs, Bearden fans and those who believe that art can serve as inspiration and sustenance. A CD of Maya Angelou's reading (tucked into the back cover) is an added bonus. All ages. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

School Library Journal Starred Review

Gr 1-4-This recently discovered work by the renowned African-American artist is not to be missed. It is the story of Li'l Dan, a slave on the Hollis plantation, who listens nightly to Mr. Ned play his drum from faraway Africa. As he learns more, he makes his own drum, practicing all of the sounds he hears. When black Union soldiers tell him that he's free, he follows them. A short time later, he uses his drum to save his new friends from enemy attack and is congratulated by General Sherman. Although the story is worthy in its own right, the 21 mixed-media paintings are the outstanding element here. With rich colors and bold black outlines, the dramatic art shows the influence of abstract expressionism. Brilliant blue Union uniforms and dark skin stand out against the white spaces, and text and art are in perfect balance. Beginning letters on many pages also reflect the illustrations in color, shape, and style. The simplicity of primary colors and abstract figures express so much more than the text alone. There is no doubt about Dan's intensity as he listens to the sounds of the woods and taps out the song with his fingertips. Li'l Dan is small-seemingly insignificant against the large soldiers in their striking uniforms. Yet his strength and self-assurance fill the page when he confidently strikes out the cannon fire. On the accompanying CD, Maya Angelou's mellow voice and easy pace complement this beautiful, creative work.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

ALA Booklist (Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

Renowned African American artist Bearden, who died in 1988, wrote and illustrated this story about a slave boy who lives on a Southern plantation. Li'l Dan makes himself a drum and uses it to imitate the sounds around him: singing people, cawing birds, clacking leaves, and crashing thunder. After the Union army liberates him, Dan follows the soldiers of Company E, becomes their mascot, and saves them from a Confederate cavalry unit with his remarkable drumming. Bearden's illustrations are expressive, and some are quite wonderful, but children may find it odd that Dan looks different from page to page, partly because the artist's style varies and partly because Dan's size and proportions seem to fluctuate. Still, children will enjoy the book as a Civil War story featuring a courageous African American boy, and adults will appreciate it as the only picture book Bearden left behind. Maya Angelou reads the story aloud quite effectively on the accompanying CD.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Bearden gives folkloric resonance to a simply structured historical tale. Li'l Dan, a slave child in the Civil War South, is inseparable from his drum. When a regiment of black Union soldiers takes him on as a mascot, he discovers that his talent can have a heroic dimension. With its large and open design, concise text, and exciting illustrations, this works well for story hour, or anytime you need a hero. A CD read by Maya Angelou is included.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>Recently discovered, this is Bearden's only work for children. Li'l Dan was a slave on the Hollis plantation, and every day after work, he came to hear Mr. Ned play his African drum. And each day Mr. Ned taught Dan how to play that drum. Eventually, Dan makes his own drum, perfects his skills, and goes off with the Union army. He becomes a hero when his drumming warns his troops of an impending attack from Confederate troops. Li'l Dan is congratulated by General William Tecumseh Sherman and is invited to join the army's drum corps. Mixed-media art enhances the text and serves as a fine introduction to Bearden's work. An introduction by Dr. Henry Louis Gates and a CD with Maya Angelou's reading of the story are included. An important find for the world of children's literature. (Picture book. 4-8)</p>