ALA Booklist

This unusual book pairs photographs of black children from the early part of this century with verses written by Myers. The short rhymes are pleasant enough, but there's nothing memorable about the writing, and occasionally, it seems detached from the adjacent pictures. Myers' collection of photographs, though, is extraordinary: snapshots and posed studio portraits, capturing a great range of personalities and moods in the children's expressions. Some are haunting for their beauty, others for the stories implicit in those faces, stories that readers now can only wonder about or imagine for themselves. The photos may appeal more to adults than to kids, but teachers will find the book a good starting place for black history, family history, or creative writing assignments. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1993)

Horn Book

Myers's collection of antique photographs of African-American children from the turn of the century, sharply reproduced in black and white or sepia, inspired eleven evocative poems that affirm the African-American experience in a lyrical, tender, and sometimes humorous voice. A beautiful, unique album.

Kirkus Reviews

Enchanting period photos of young African-Americans, which Myers collected from dusty bins in antique shops, flea markets, auction houses, and museum collections.'' The children are dressed in their best—white lace, baggy trousers, or school clothes and bare feet—and elegantly posed, whether in gracious surroundings or sitting on a humble stoop; their luminous gazes are warmed with the rich gold and brown of the old photos. Truly, this beautifully designedalbum'' is a labor of love. Myers's verse is less wonderful; it offers no epiphanies to match the pictures, but his echoes of African-American speech and themes make them a decent accompaniment. And if ``For I am dark and precious/And have such gifts to give/Sweet joy, sweet love,/Sweet laughter/ Sweet wondrous life to live'' seems—well, sweet, it's also piquantly ironic in light of the struggles awaiting these promising, much-beloved children. (Poetry. 5+)"

School Library Journal

Gr 2 Up-A unique celebration of the continuum of human life and of childhood in all its robustness, fragility, and evanescent beauty. Motivated by a desire to share his pleasure in the old photographs of African-American children that he collects, Myers has created an exquisite album. The 42 superbly reproduced, black-and-white and sepia prints radiate intensely with the personalities of their subjects. The author's 11 original poems are in various forms and range from humorous to elegiac. The language is simple and reads aloud well. Although the pictures will not show up well enough at a distance for story programs, Brown Angels will have innumerable uses in the classroom, from family history projects to poetry writing. This is a book that children may not pick up on their own because of its old-fashioned appearance, but once they have discovered it, they will pore over the images and want to hear the verses again and again. The fact that the children are black adds poignancy, but the feelings that animate their faces are universal.-Sue Norris, Rye Free Reading Room, NY