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Standing in the Need of Prayer

A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual

Author Carole Boston Weatherford
Read by Carole Boston Weatherford
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Books on Tape | Listening Library
On sale Sep 20, 2022 | 19 Minutes | 9780593613719
Age 6-9 years | Grades 6-12
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From an award-winning author comes a stunning and deeply moving book based on the popular spiritual "Standing in the Need of Prayer." The classic lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African American history.

This inspirational audiobook encapsulates African American history and invites conversations at all levels. Carole Boston Weatherford’s riveting text is an informative reminder of yesterday, a hopeful image for today, and an aspirational dream of tomorrow.
 
Starting from 1619 and stretching more than four hundred years, this audiobook features such pivotal moments in history as the arrival of enslaved people in Jamestown, Virginia; Nat Turner's rebellion; the integration of the US military; the Selma to Montgomery marches; and peaceful present-day protests. It also celebrates the feats of African American musicians and athletes, such as Duke Ellington and Florence Griffith Joyner.
 
At the end of the audiobook, listeners will find descriptions of the people, places, and events that are featured, along with a note from Carole Boston Weatherford.
 
Incredibly timely, this book reckons with a painful history while serving as a testament to the human spirit's ability to persevere in even the most hopeless of circumstances. Its universal message of faith, strength, and resilience will resonate with listeners of all ages.
  • WINNER | 2023
    Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award
★ "A richly illustrated, informative picture book that will leave readers humming and spark a desire to learn more." —The Horn Book, starred review

★ "Gorgeous and enlightening, nourishing both mind and soul."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Truly elegant."—Booklist, starred review

★ “An evocative use of prayer as old-school protest with a history lesson that is as lilting as a ballad.” —School Library Journal, starred review

★ “Weatherford and Morrison successfully elevate a classic song, rendering it as relevant and profound across time.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A love letter to the Black community...The book is a lesson, a tribute and an inspiration that should work as both an excellent read-aloud and potential sing-along." —Shelf Awareness
Carole Boston Weatherford is a two-time NAACP Image Award Winner, an ALA-ALSC Children’s Literature Legacy Award Winner, and the author of Standing in the Need of Prayer, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner; Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, which won the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards, a Caldecott Honor, and a Sibert Honor; the Newbery Honor Book Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom; Family Feast!; and many other acclaimed books. She was also named the 2025–2026 Young People’s Poet Laureate. Carole was born in Baltimore, where she now resides. View titles by Carole Boston Weatherford

Discussion Guide for Standing in the Need of Prayer

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Read More

About

From an award-winning author comes a stunning and deeply moving book based on the popular spiritual "Standing in the Need of Prayer." The classic lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African American history.

This inspirational audiobook encapsulates African American history and invites conversations at all levels. Carole Boston Weatherford’s riveting text is an informative reminder of yesterday, a hopeful image for today, and an aspirational dream of tomorrow.
 
Starting from 1619 and stretching more than four hundred years, this audiobook features such pivotal moments in history as the arrival of enslaved people in Jamestown, Virginia; Nat Turner's rebellion; the integration of the US military; the Selma to Montgomery marches; and peaceful present-day protests. It also celebrates the feats of African American musicians and athletes, such as Duke Ellington and Florence Griffith Joyner.
 
At the end of the audiobook, listeners will find descriptions of the people, places, and events that are featured, along with a note from Carole Boston Weatherford.
 
Incredibly timely, this book reckons with a painful history while serving as a testament to the human spirit's ability to persevere in even the most hopeless of circumstances. Its universal message of faith, strength, and resilience will resonate with listeners of all ages.

Awards

  • WINNER | 2023
    Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

Reviews

★ "A richly illustrated, informative picture book that will leave readers humming and spark a desire to learn more." —The Horn Book, starred review

★ "Gorgeous and enlightening, nourishing both mind and soul."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Truly elegant."—Booklist, starred review

★ “An evocative use of prayer as old-school protest with a history lesson that is as lilting as a ballad.” —School Library Journal, starred review

★ “Weatherford and Morrison successfully elevate a classic song, rendering it as relevant and profound across time.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A love letter to the Black community...The book is a lesson, a tribute and an inspiration that should work as both an excellent read-aloud and potential sing-along." —Shelf Awareness

Author

Carole Boston Weatherford is a two-time NAACP Image Award Winner, an ALA-ALSC Children’s Literature Legacy Award Winner, and the author of Standing in the Need of Prayer, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner; Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, which won the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Awards, a Caldecott Honor, and a Sibert Honor; the Newbery Honor Book Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom; Family Feast!; and many other acclaimed books. She was also named the 2025–2026 Young People’s Poet Laureate. Carole was born in Baltimore, where she now resides. View titles by Carole Boston Weatherford

Guides

Discussion Guide for Standing in the Need of Prayer

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Read More

Additional formats

Other Books by this Author

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