Kwame Alexander and Randy Preston (text) and Melissa Sweet (illustrator), How to Sing a Song, HarperCollins, February 2025, 32 pp., $29.99 (hbk), 9780063060937
Hush.
Now, turn up your ears
and listen
to the concert happening
all around you.
Part book, part poem, How to Sing a Song is a lyrical, heartfelt celebration of feelings, friendship, and finding the right words when it matters most. Framed as a guide the story helps children express their feelings—especially love—like a kind pep talk for growing hearts.
Kwame Alexander delivers text full of warmth and encouragement, while offering practical advice with poetic charm. Readers are invited to be bold with their words, whether it’s telling someone they’re special or expressing how they feel.
Randy Preston adds musical depth to the text that blends beautifully with Melissa Sweet’s colourful collage illustrations, filling the story with joyful energy and playful visual metaphors that bring the text to life.
Ideal for ages 4 and up, it is perfect for story time or classroom discussion about emotions, relationships, and kindness. It gently encourages children to be vulnerable and creative while reminding adults of the power in a single, heartfelt phrase. There are plenty of resources available at Teaching Books.
With themes of feelings, bravery, kindness, and communication, this uplifting story is a beautiful celebration of words and their magic.
Reviewed by Shelley Stephens
