My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey

Inspired by African-American artist Romare Bearden’s famous painting, Watching the Good Trains Go By and using text influenced by the jazz that Bearden loved, Jeanne Walker Harvey describes the patchwork of daily southern life that Romare saw out the train’s window and the story of his arrival in shimmering New York City. Elizabeth Zunon’s illustrations of painted scenes blended with collage are a stirring tribute to a remarkable artist.

Recipient of the 2012 IRA Childrens and Young Adults Book Award-Primary Non-Fiction, as well as the gold winner of a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the category of Picture Book-All Ages.