From School Library Journal
Grade 3 Up–The rich and descriptive poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar come alive as they are performed by three-time Emmy winner Bobby Norfolk. Listeners are transported to the American South in the era around the Civil War through dialect and the themes of the poems. Norfolk's narration gives life to the poems with different voices, clear dialect, and occasional singing. His performance makes the work of this famous 19th century poet accessible and enjoyable to children. This collection of 12 poems includes love songs, Civil War poems, and story poems like "The Critters Dance." Children will relate to the poems of family and community life, such as "The Party" and "Little Brown Baby. " Instrumental music of the era plays between poems. The brief introduction by Norfolk tells about Dunbar's life and times, as well as the dialect of the poems. This versatile CD would complement a study of African-American history, poetry, Civil War history, or could be enjoyed as great storytelling.–Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
This poetry collection has something for everyone--the admonitions of an exasperated mother rousting her child in the morning, the spine-tingling teasing of the bogeyman, the fleeting memory of the first rose of love, the profound sadness and injustice of sons, fathers, and husbands going off to war, and the excited cheer of a special picnic. Paul Dunbar wrote of the African-American experience at the turn of the twentieth century. Storyteller Bobby Norfolk brings this poetry to life for the 21st-century listener. Dunbar's stories are written to be heard, and Norfolk tells the stories, illuminates poignant thoughts, and captures photographic moments through pacing, inflection, musical intonation, and African-American dialect. His interpretation complements the energy and depth of Dunbar's work. Period musical interludes complete this fine recording. A.R. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 3 Up-The rich and descriptive poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar come alive as they are performed by three-time Emmy winner Bobby Norfolk. Listeners are transported to the American South in the era around the Civil War through dialect and the themes of the poems. Norfolk's narration gives life to the poems with different voices, clear dialect, and occasional singing. His performance makes the work of this famous 19th century poet accessible and enjoyable to children. This collection of 12 poems includes love songs, Civil War poems, and story poems like "The Critters Dance." Children will relate to the poems of family and community life, such as "The Party" and "Little Brown Baby." Instrumental music of the era plays between poems. The brief introduction by Norfolk tells about Dunbar's life and times, as well as the dialect of the poems. This versatile CD would complement a study of African-American history, poetry, Civil War history, or could be enjoyed as great storytelling.-Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile