She Sang for the Mountains: The Story of Singer, Songwriter, Activist, Jean Ritchie by Shannan Hitchcock

Jean Ritchie (1922-2015) was the youngest of fourteen siblings in what her autobiography dubbed the Singing Family of the Cumberlands, a traditional family that lived in Perry County, Kentucky. This picture book, recommended for ages 7-14, tells the story of her rise to prominence as a nationally-known folk singer known for preserving traditional songs and composing songs that protested environmental threats to the land she loved. She was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. "A hearty portrait of the 'Mother of Folk,' emphasizing the belief that music can create change." --Publishers Weekly. “The illustrations leap off the page with characters that will remind older readers of stop-motion animation, here set against collage backgrounds. In stark scenes, children will also learn about the art of protest songs and Ritchie's own work against strip mining. A great addition to existing literature on climate change, this biography adds the subject to