*”Weatherford does her own amazing job of telling the story in rhymed couplets that make the events digestible for young readers. Her compact history is juxtaposed against Morrison’s majestic paintings, dramatic spreads that breathe life into both Newton’s story and the history that followed. The afterword closely follows the text, a boon for children wanting more information. The song’s verses and suggestions for further reading and listening complete this fine package.”

– Booklist, Starred Review

“The illustrations are dramatic oil paintings that successfully evoke gravity, sorrow, and religiosity. The lyrical text presents a mature story in spare verse . . . An enriching picture of a hymn that has touched hearts over centuries and across the world.”

– Kirkus Reviews

“Morrison’s vibrant, sometimes haunting oil paintings join Weatherford’s spare, rhyming couplets to delineate the birth and reach of the famed hymn ‘Amazing Grace.’ Dynamic . . .”

– Publishers Weekly

“Written in spare rhyming verse, every word is deliberate, and every line carefully crafted to maintain the meter, resulting in a striking trochaic rhythm that begs to be read aloud . . . What truly makes the book stand out are Morrison’s stunning oil paintings, which vividly bring to life Newton’s personal experiences and moments of larger historical importance.”

– School Library Journal

“Weatherford’s rhymed verse . . . encourage[s] readers to reflect on how Newton’s lyrics reflect his personal testimony to sin, repentance, and deliverance. . . . The limited text, accompanied by Morrison’s stirring full spread illustrations, recommend this for a group audience of mixed ages, particularly for family reading or bible school gatherings.”

– BCCB