Beautifully narrated and a wonderful child appropriate look at Ms. Angelou's life and influence. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who loves her work.

Rise! is a wonderful biography of Maya Angelou, it is poetically written and depicts the tumultuous childhood of a young girl who suffered trauma, found solace in books, and healing from within. . Rise! does an amazing job explaining the significance of her work and long journey to activism and writing. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cherise Boothe, . imagining her life. Angelou reading her poetry is included at the end along with a timeline of her life. This book should be a must read for all young people today, it has meaning, it has cause, it is filled with truth cushioned in love, reality and finding respect and then offered to others, wonderful just wonderful highly recommended..

Maya Angelou has always been my favorite poet. She had a way with words that stopped me in my tracks. This picture book biography (audio version) by Bethany Hegesus is a beautiful testimony to her life. It is one I will purchase both audio and hard copy. It’s gorgeous! Two quotes stuck out, “There is no safety in silence!” And “Maya Angelou’s many books and her legacy of not just surviving but thriving, continue to give us all hope to rise again and again.” Maya was a champion for Civil Rights and for women. This biography showcases her and is a must read.

An honest and indepth look at the background of Maya Angelou. The audio version and narrator's performance really took the content to a deeper level. The text was beautifully crafted so that many details feel like a whole lifetime. Worth multiple reads and listens!!!

I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator was excellent and expressive, speaking clearly and with deep emotion that will resonate with children and adults who hear her read. The sounds that accompanied the audiobook were also well-chosen. Sounds such as clucking chickens and flipping burgers will consistently keep elementary-aged listeners engaged throughout the book, and shifts in music from church music to jazz will help signal to elementary-aged listeners the transitions between country and city environments.

The writing itself was moving and eloquent without being too advanced for its target audience to understand. Phrases such as "love and hate, the seesaw of the South," and "wielding whiteness as a weapon" were particularly powerful.

All in all, a beautiful biography for elementary readers celebrating the life and achievements of the remarkable poet Maya Angelou.

(In the interest of full disclosure, I did receive a free promotional copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review!)

4/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher Spotlight Audio for providing this audiobook-arc!

I knew little to no information about Maya prior to me listening to the audiobook and I felt like it was very effective despite being a picture book in itself. Definitely reccomend for anybody interested in a quick informational read!

Wow! The power of the spoken word! Launching National Poetry Month with this beautiful audiobook biography of the "Poet of the People"-- Dr. Maya Angelou. This audiobook is a perfect compliment for the picture book. It dramatizes the story of Maya Angelou's life with background sound effects and even Angelou's own voice. The narrator's voice is strong and poetic. This overview of the well-known activist and how much she overcame will be a gateway for older readers; perhaps sparking a new interest in this fascinating woman's memoirs. I can't imagine a better tribute and celebration than this audiobook. The book ends with a timeline that brings awareness to all of Dr. Maya Angelou's accomplishments. Highly recommended for all libraries.

Rise! is a fantastic audiobook for younger readers about the life of Maya Angelou! I enjoyed the narration and the added sounds to make the audio fully immersive. The book does a good job of covering her life and what led to her writing and activism. The audiobook + picture book is the perfect combination!

Thank you to the author, Publisher Spotlight Audio, and NetGalley for providing a copy to review!

Rise!: from caged bird to poet of the people, Maya angelou
By Bethqny Hegedus and Tonya Engel
First readers voice is wonderful on the audible version. I did miss the pictures in this version. I would hope by the cover art what it would look like and think it would add meaning for children. The combined versions would make a good group recorded reading activity.
I think that the book is part of the Black history month celebration. Yet as a teacher I look at the events of her life with the introduction stating to ask questions what age group to read this with. She had some very complicated events that I would like guidelines with younger students. I really see it as an important story like other civil rights leaders that needs to be shared. The audible version is important since it shows audible selections of martin Luther king and maya angelou herself.. which shows more of the story. But also something that may help children of the younger grades understand the story.. with guidelines I could see myself sharing it with a second grade classroom.

Title: Rise! From Caged Birds to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou
Author: Bethany Hegedus
Illustrator: Alex Marley
Narrator: Cherise Boothe
Genre: Children’s Biography
Pages: 48

Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou, is a children’s biography targeted at ages 7 to 10. It tells the story of Maya Angelou from birth to her death. It is available in hardback and audiobook formats. I listened to this book. I am a bit confused on release dates for this book. The audiobook is available now and the hardback has not been published. However, there is a 2019 version that is available in all formats – maybe a previous version?

The audiobook tells the incredibly rich history of Maya Angelou’s life from her childhood in Stamps to writing in the Harlem Writers Guild (also frequented by James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and many others) to working for MLK to speaking at Clinton’s Inauguration in 1993. The places she went and the people she met throughout her life are amazing.

I am embarrassed to say that I did not know much about Maya Angelou before reading this book and this was an excellent introduction. After listening to this book, I went and read more about her biography and found the telling of this children’s book to be an accurate and age appropriate.

The narrator had a beautiful voice that makes the prose sound like poetry. Even though this was only 31 minutes, I feel like I have a vivid picture of her story.

I would recommend this audiobook for all readers. For adults, unless you are well-versed in her biography, this is a great introduction to her incredible life. (Sometimes I find reading children’s non-fiction helps give me a good intro to a topic, so I’m not as intimidated by adult non-fiction.) This book is also great for children to learn the biography of an important black poet and author.

ARC provided to me by Publisher Spotlight Audio, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

#Rise #NetGalley

This is such an amazing tribute to Maya Angelou. I like how the book is informative, but still appropriate and entertaining for younger readers. I listened to the audio version, but I would love to see the illustrations that went with the story. I did feel like it abruptly ended, but maybe that was just because I was enjoying it so much I wanted more. I would recommend this for home libraries, schools, and any place that has young readers. More books like this please! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A captivating version of the life of Maya Angelou. Beautiful tale that shows the strength, power, and resilience of an amazing woman. Highly recommend for young readers (and listeners) through the more seasoned reader (and ears.)

My utmost gratitude to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Maya Angeleo story. Liked: love hate relationships with the south. White people use whiteness as a weapon. Power of words and how maya uses them.

This book takes an empathetic approach and gives bite size approaches and allows you to have kindness and patience with yourself when dealing with life. This is so necessary for everyone to read in life. Highly recommend. Especially loved the reflection to true life to humanize my feelings and relate. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This a beautifully crafted lyrical text on the biography of Maya Angelou. This brief, but through biography informs, educates, and entertains the reader with the many paths discovered, explored, and mastered by Ms. Angelou through her lifetime. The narration of the audio book is enjoyable. I highly recommend this book.

This stunning picture book biography of Maya Angelou celebrates the poet's accomplishments for younger readers. Author Bethany Hegedus gently shares, but does not shy away from the hardships and trauma of Maya Angelou's life.
The book gives grown ups the opportunity to discuss important themes in Angelou's life and work, including child sexual abuse, racism, young motherhood, civil rights activism, and family relationship.

Most importantly, the book beautifully illustrates the power of words, stories, and one's own voice. It teaches young readers there is "no safety in silence", and provides a wonderful example of activism in the life of Maya Angelou.

The audiobook adds significant value to the picture book. It is atmospheric, lyrical, and includes clips from Angelou herself. Most notably, Cherise Boothe does a PHENOMENAL job with the narration! I highly encourage you to check it out.

This was absolutely wonderful! My children and I loved this book. It was narrated so well. We learned a lot, and can't wait to return to it again and again.

Beautiful book. I don't usually do audiobooks with my kids (I like to do read alouds though), I couldn't pass this one up. Maya Angelou truly is a phenomenal woman who I wanted my kids to hear about. The audio is done beautifully. I love the sound effects in the background. I love that when Angelou's poetry is talked about, a brief montage of her voice reading lines of her poetry are included in the sounds. And I loved the timeline at the end of the book. Very well done audio.
The one part of the book that I felt was confusing though, was the way the sexual assault in her childhood was described....or really not described. Don't get me wrong. I certainly don't believe it should have been DESCRIBED in a children's book. But the wording used was confusing. The man made her not feel free. Then he was dead and she thought her voice killed him.
From a child's perspective, I didn't feel like it said enough about what it was that he did. I mean, did he hurt her, did he treat her meanly, did he do something to her against her will. These simple explanations would have sufficed without being confusing to a child.
That's really my only critique though. It was done very well.

Rise! is a magnificent brief biography of Maya Angelou for younger readers. It is poetically written and depicts the tumultuous childhood of a sensitive girl who suffered trauma, found solace in books, and healing from finding her voice. Rise! does a phenomenal job explaining the significance of her life and work and circuitous journey to activism and writing. I listened to the audiobook, deftly narrated by Cherise Boothe. Additionally, sound effects for each place are included, really helping the listener imagine her life. Angelou reading her poetry is included at the end along with a timeline of her life. If the gorgeous cover is any indication of the book's illustrations, it seems certainly an essential companion to the audiobook! A truly wonderful book!

Thank you Live Oak Media and NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC.