Sing Praise
Illustrated by Janet Broxon
A joyous celebration where all living things praise their creator.
(Based on Psalms 148 and 150.)
All that breathe, the seasons round,
the stars and Moon, Sun's rays,
rivers, trees, and mountains
all sing a song of praise.
(Scroll down to hear live performance of the text set to music in Knoxville, TN, in February, 2018. It's beautiful!)
Reviews
“With exuberant jewel-toned illustrations…and a bouncy rhyming text, Greene and Broxon interpret Psalms 148 and 150, in which all living creation praises God. Playful words and phrasing add to the fun for younger readers in such verse as ‘Barn doves coo as milk cows moo / in beastly, joyful song. / Horses n-ei-eigh while donkeys br-a-ay / as piglets join along. Oink!’ The combination of cheery animals and vibrant naturescapes…convey the joyous energy of these much-loved biblical passages…”
Publishers Weekly
“…The playful rhymes and joyful illustrations will lift the spirits of parents and children…”
Children’s Literature
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Music composition by David Sims Words by Rhonda Gowler Greene (text below)
The anthem was commissioned for the 2018 Knoxville RSCM Treble Festival by St. John's Cathedral. Choir members- 3rd grade through high school, from area Knoxville churches. Guest conductor, Ben Outen. Organist, Eunjin Choi.
From mouse to mighty elephant,
the animals sing praise,
Peeping, trilling, trumpeting,
Their happy voices raise
a glad thanksgiving song to God,
creator of them all,
who made the chanting chimpanzee,
the buzzing bee, so small.
From oceans deep, sea creatures leap
and jump for joy in praise
and sing and play in salty spray
of splashing, crashing waves
while on the air the words of birds
weave merry melodies
that serenade with songs of praise
upon a carefree breeze.
Barn doves coo as milk cows moo
in beastly, joyful song.
Horses n-ei-eigh while donkeys br-a-ay
as piglets join along. Oink!
Frogs on logs hum jug-a-rum.
They praise with croaking calls
while rivers trickle, sing their songs,
and rush in waterfalls.
Mountains, trees, stretch toward the sky,
majestic in their praise,
lifting songs from nature
days on days on days.
Sun and Moon sing praises too,
and stars that glow at night.
They honor God, their maker,
by shining brilliant-bright.
The seasons sing with wind and rain.
They whisper soft with snow.
Whirling round and round each year,
God made them circle so.
The young, the old, proclaim their praise.
They open wide and sing
and play on instruments that chime
and clash and clang and ring.
With nimble feet, they dance, rejoice.
They swirl and twirl about
in grassy fields, on busy streets,
in every town throughout.
All that breathe, the seasons round,
the stars and Moon, Sun's rays,
rivers, trees, and mountains
all sing a song of praise.