Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars

The poignant story of Blind Willie Johnson--the legendary Texas musician whose song "Dark Was the Night" was included on the Voyager I space probe's Golden Record

Willie Johnson was born in 1897, and from the beginning he loved to sing--and play his cigar box guitar. But his childhood was interrupted when he lost his mother and his sight. How does a blind boy make his way in the world? Fortunately for Willie, the music saved him and brought him back into the light. His powerful voice, combined with the wailing of his slide guitar, moved people. Willie made a name for himself performing on street corners all over Texas. And one day he hit it big when he got a record deal and his songs were played on the radio. Then in 1977, his song--"Dark Was the Night"--was chosen to light up the darkness when it was launched into space on the Voyager I space probe's famous Golden Record. His immortal song was selected for the way it expresses the loneliness humans all feel, while reminding us we're not alone.

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Published: 08/25/2020
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.83lbs
Size: 11.30h x 8.70w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781524738884
Age: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.2
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 512095 / Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson's Journey to the Stars


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2020
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2020
Booklist 06/01/2020 pg. 70
School Library Journal 08/01/2020 pg. 91
Publishers Weekly 11/16/2020
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2020 pg. 124
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2020 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Gary Golio is a fine artist, musician, and psychotherapist. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller JIMI: Sounds Like A Rainbow--A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix and many other award-winning books. He lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

E. B. Lewis is the acclaimed illustrator of more than seventy picture books, including Each Kindness, The Other Side, and Caldecott Honor book Coming on Home Soon (all by Jacqueline Woodson); Preaching to the Chickens (by Jabari Asim); and several Coretta Scott King Award winners, such as Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman and The Bat Boy and His Violin. He taught art in public schools for twelve years, and currently teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. He lives in Folsom, New Jersey.