Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 1997)

Starred Review The two Myerses thor and artist, father and son lebrate Harlem, which they perceive both as a city and a promise of a better life, in quite different but wonderfully complementary ways. The author views Harlem ere he grew up a symbol of African American aspiration; the artist shares a more concrete city composed of colors loud enough to be heard. In a text that is as much song as poem, the author offers his impressionistic appreciation for a culture that is predominantly music-based, with its roots in calls and songs and shouts first heard in the villages of Ghana/Mali/Senegal. In his hotly vibrant ink, gouache, and collage images, the artist shows us the textures of the city streets, the colors of sun yellow shirts on burnt umber bodies, and even, it seems, the sounds the words themselves evoke. The very look of metaphorical moments is well served by the text, but it is Harlem as a visual experience that YAs will return to again and again, to admire and wonder at what is realized with truly extraordinary grace and power by this young artist of such wonderful promise.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1997)

Myers's paean to Harlem sings, dances, and swaggers across the pages, conveying the myriad sounds on the streets, from the voices of Africa and the Caribbean to the 'A' trains mixing and mingling in their own special rhythms. Christopher Myers's collages add an edge to his father's words, vividly bringing to life the sights and scenes of Lenox Avenue.

Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

A hot new artist and his distinguished father fashion a picture book with a stirring sound at its center. Walter Dean Myers (Slam!, p. 1536, etc.) gives poetry a jazz backbeat to tell the story of Harlem, the historic center of African-American culture in New York City. To newcomers from Waycross, Georgia, from East St. Louis, from Trinidad, Harlem was a promise.'' Listing the streets and the churches, naming Langston and Countee, Shango and Jesus, the text is rich with allusion. The imagery springs to life at once:Ring-a-levio warriors/Stickball heroes''; ``a full lipped, full hipped/Saint washing collard greens . . . Backing up Lady Day on the radio.'' A strong series of images of ink and gouache capture the beauty of faces, from the very old to very young, from golden to blue- black. Christopher Myers sets his scenes to match the streets, fire escapes, jazz clubs, and kitchens of Harlem, and makes them by turns starkly stylized as an Egyptian mask or sweet as a stained glass window. Put this on the shelf next to Chris Raschka's Charlie Parker Played Be-Bop (1992) and see if anyone can sit still when the book is read aloud. (Picture book. 5+)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This heartfelt tribute captures the many moods of Harlem, bringing to life a very real urban community steeped in cultural history. Myers begins his poem with the words """"Harlem was a promise/ Of a better life, of a place where a man didn't/ Have to know his place/ Simply because he was/ Black""""; this cautious optimism informs the text. Children play on sidewalks and the smell of barbecue lingers. But there is sadness too-a """"fleet of funeral cars"""" or """"endless depths of pain/ Singing a capella on the street corners."""" Throughout, the past overlays the present, like a legacy passed down (""""A journey on the A train/ That started on the banks of the Niger/ And has not ended""""). Dreams dreamed in present-day Harlem are a part of this continuum, and music is the means of expression. The text pays homage to the """"weary blues that Langston knew/ And Countee sung""""; to Sunday night gospel music and Lady Day on the radio. Christopher Myers, who previously illustrated his father's Shadow of the Red Moon, delivers bold collages that are both stark and lyrical. People stare out of his paintings, challenging or appealing to the viewer, or lost in reverie. Rough cut paper and daubed paint combine to create a raw immediacy. This is by no means an easy book-most of the allusions, if not the poem's significance itself, will need to be explained to children-but its artistic integrity is unmistakable; the effort its presentation to young readers may require is worth it. Ages 5-up. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up--A visually striking, oversized picture book. Walter Dean Myers's songlike poem relates the story of a group of people who settled in New York City, hoping to improve their lots in life, only to discover that racism could still keep them from achieving success. Well-known Harlem landmarks, such as the Cotton Club and the Apollo Theater, are mentioned, as are famous African Americans, like Langston Hughes and Joe Louis. The pain of discrimination is made abundantly clear through Myers's forceful, often bitter words. The pride and determination of the people of Harlem are also demonstrated, as is their at times overwhelming despair. The bold collage and ink drawings complement the text well. Although the book paints a vibrant picture of the area and its residents, it is difficult to imagine its proposed audience. Many young people will not be able to grasp the subtleties and imagery of the poem or understand its frequent cultural references. The artwork is fresh and eye-catching, but it, too, is sophisticated. Overall, this is an arresting and heartfelt tribute to a well-known, but little understood, community that may take a bit of effort to sell.--Melissa Hudak, North Suburban District Library, Roscoe, IL