My Voice Is a Trumpet

K-Gr 2–“We all have voices, voices to hear.” Country music artist Jimmie Allen offers descriptive poetry dedicated to the power the voice, of an individual or of the many: “Some have a voice / AS TALL AS A TREE— / LOUD and PROUD / Some have a voice as small as a bee, / soft and sweet like / KISSES OF HONEY.” Beautifully painted portraits bring depth to the faces, as well as emotion to each setting. The sound of voices flows as bubbles from a trumpet and through the end papers after a series of scenarios. Larger bubbles surround and call attention to types of voices, even those that are “silent but speak with hands.” The soft palette is highlighted by deeper tones, shadows, and expressive faces, while library shelves weave across the page as a place “to wonder, to learn, and to ask.” The text urges children to speak up—show strength—yet also encourages loving, comforting others, and reminding all “we’re Sisters and Brothers” who have faces of diverse races and ethnicities.