Praise for The Swan Song

"THE SWAN SONG by Kaye Graham is that rare thing: a book for readers of all ages that is destined to become a classic. Graham has crafted a rich and moving story about joy, gratitude, and the seasons of life that reminds us of the one thing that matters most: deep, abiding love. With gorgeous illustrations and a message that speaks right to the heart, it is truly a gift."
Will Schwalbe, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Your LIfe Book Club


"Through lyrical, lilting poetic prose, Kaye Graham's The Swan Song tells a timeless tale of longing and love. Shelly Hehenberger's lovely, understated collages perfectly complement Graham’s classic, mesmerizing voice. Like the final resonant notes of the swan who occupies this story’s heart, The Swan Song sounds softly in my ears even now, long after putting the book down. I could not walk away from it if I tried."
Allan Wolf, author of The Watch that Ends the Night and The Blanket Where Violet Sits

"An exquisite expression of the inseparability of love and loss that celebrates the gift of bringing forth beauty from pain. Graham's lyrical text sings a song as beautiful and heart-piercing as the swan's own."
Claudia Mills, author of The Lost Language

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

KAYE GRAHAM A teacher and scholar focusing on children’s literature, Kathryn V. (Kaye) Graham has devised and offered courses on Ethnic Literature for Children, Children’s Literature and Film, the Harry Potter Phenomenon, and Award-winning Children’s Books in Virginia Tech’s English Department and Lifelong Learning Institute. The Swan Song is her first children’s book.

NIKKI GIOVANNI is an American poet, activist, and author who has written many books for young people, including I Am Loved, Rosa, a Caldecott Honor Book, and most recently A Library. The first recipient of the Rosa L. Parks Woman of Courage Award, Nikki also won the Langston Hughes Medal for Poetry. She is University Distinguished Professor Emerita at Virginia Tech. Longstanding friends and colleagues, Kaye and Nikki met for years at Wednesday Club, their venue for chatting about many things but especially literature for children. The Swan Song came into being when Kaye was auditing Nikki’s seminar on writing for a young audience. "Avec Vous" is Nikki's lyric response to Kaye’s story.

SHELLY HEHENBERGER The illustrations in this book were created using hand-painted textures and patterns (acrylic on paper) that have been collaged digitally in Adobe Photoshop. Shelly Hehenberger has been illustrating and writing children’s books since 1996. She has a BA in Graphic Design from Indiana University, 1990, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Cincinnati, 1994. She is also an art teacher and abstract painter, to see her painting work please visit: www.shellyhehenberger.com To see more of her illustration work please visit: www.shellyhehenbergerillustration.com