I GOTTA SING by alice faye duncan

A Layered Conversation (Just like the book . . .)

Join us for a vivacious discussion of Alice's new and delightful book, I GOTTA SING. As we chat about modernizing old hymns, spirituals, and gospel songs for a new generation, the power of a setting, the value of an amazing illustrator and so much more! It's always a pleasure to talk to Alice and this book is so fun and absolutely full of joy. Like the book, our conversation had many layers, so jump in and join us! ​

I GOTTA SING by Alice Faye Duncan

This is a beautiful book full of joy, song, color, and just -- life!  I love that it modernizes an old spiritual song in such a fun and upbeat way!  The characters (human and animal) jump off the page, and while they have a certain vintage charm, they are beautifully contemporary, too.  Alice places this song in a fun and relatable context for kids and caregivers.  Dreaded bath time!  However auntie and uncle gently guide little Hezekiah to bath time with minimal fussing by singing their way through the situation, which, is a perfectly-suited strategy to many of the things we deal with inlife. The caregivers are loving and patient, while holding Baby accountable, which I, as an educator, really appreciate.  And, there's excellent back matter on writing your own lyrics, with an opportunity to do just that.  A perfect gift for the budding writer or lyricist, but equally appropriate for families, for teachers, for caregivers -- for farm families -- just grab a few copies to have on hand, because it's perfect for someone on your list for sure!

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

I love this version of this song!  It's a little jazzy and super fun!  It would be great for some movement in your classroom or for family time. Great little piano riffs and a natural segue into a character education lesson about love and what it really means.  It has a strong steady beat for use in the music classroom if you wanted to use some percussion instruments to keep the beat.  If this one doesn't bring you joy, then check out the playlist in the links section, as there are several different versions there!

​Teacher Tips, Tricks and Topics

BIG Ideas in This Book

1. Bathtime
2. Setting -- Farm
3. Singing/rhythm/moving
4. "I Gotta Sing" -- contemporized spiritual
5. Intergenerational relationships

Be sure to check out the Pinterest board for even more fun ideas/activities to go along with the book at home or in the classroom.

Because of the content, I'm shooting for preschool - K in these tips, but you could choose the song element or the intergenerational relationships and use it with primary kids.

1. Bathtime
   1. Bathtime sensory bin
   2. Bathtub "reading" area with pillows
   3. Sequencing activities related to bath time
   4. Other bathtime books
   5. Handwashing activities
   6. Bathtime songs
   7. Reward charts
2. Setting -- Farm
   1. Farm Animals
      1. Puppets
      2. Life cycles
      3. Crafts
      4. Animal sounds/onomatopoeia (That topic could also translate up for older kids)
      5. Farm songs
   2. Other farm tips/topics
      1. Tractor
         1. Art --
            1. Directed drawing
            2. color-by-number
            3. Use tractor tires to paint
            4. Design-a-tractor (use simple template)
         2. Music
            1. The Wheels on the Tractor
            2. Old McDonald
            3. BINGO
            4. Poems with rhythm
            5. Tapping out farm syllables (tractor =2 eighth notes; farm = quarter note, etc)
         3. Sensory bin/tractor play
         4. Literacy 
            1. Read other books about tractors and farms 
            2. Poems
            3. Song lyrics
3. Singing/rhythm/movement
   1. ​Just SING!
   2. Talk about the importance of singing
   3. Listen for rhythm/music wherever you are
   4. Make up little songs about whatever you're doing together
   5. Find fun ways to move from one place to another
      1. Can you hop to the next stop?
      2. Run?
      3. Jump?
      4. Skip?
4. "I Gotta Sing"
   1. Sing different versions
   2. Make up additional moves/sounds
   3. Use the template in the back of the book to write additional verses
5. Intergenerational stories
   1. Read more stories about grandparents and great-grands, great aunts/uncles, etc.
   2. Have students draw pictures of elderly people who are important to them
   3. Ditto above, but write a letter or poem, etc.

​​Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

View above tips and topics and include songs about those topics:
farms/farm animals
grandparents/elderly friends
bath time, etc.

Obviously, the strongest music content comes from the song "Gotta Sing When the Spirit Says Sing".

• Learn the words and sing
• Use versions with strong  steady beat and do body percussion to keep the beat or 
• Have kids make up a body percussion routine to the song.

This is where I think you could definitely bring in older kids too.

• Compare 2 or more versions of the song
  • Different instruments?
  • Different styles or genres?
  • Different vocalists?
  • Different tempo?
  • What else is the same or different.
• Talk about the history of the song
  • Black spiritual
  • Civil rights
• Write their own verses to the song and perform them.

​​Writing Prompts from Tonnye

1. Write 3 new verses to the song.
2. What do you think is the central message of the song?  Why do you think that's important?
3. Write about your favorite bathtime rituals/traditions.
4. If you were trying to. get a younger kid to take a bath, what would you do?
5. Why do you think little kids don't like to take baths?
6. Which farm animal in the book is your favorite?  Why?
7. Have you ever spent time on a farm?  Write about your experience.
8. Write a poem about farm animals using at least 4 onomatopoeia.
9. Does an older family member or friend take care of you sometimes?  Write about that experience. What do you like/dislike?
10. Write your own "Gotta Sing" story, but set it somewhere else besides a farm.
11. Write a letter to the author telling her your favorite thing(s) about the book and one thing you wish she had done differently.
12. Draw a postcard and write a note on the other side to the illustrator, telling him why you like (or don't like) his illustrations.
13. Write a poem about Bath Time
14. Choose another black spiritual and write it into a story. Where will it be set?  Who are the characters?  Why are they singing the song?  How will you change the words?
15. Write a story called "The Singing Farm"

Writing Tips from Alice

1. For craft, read and study lyrics to your favorite traditional and contemporary songs. 
2. For practical work, purchase writing pens and notebooks that are aesthetically pleasing to you.
3. For inspiration, visit local art and history museums  

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

YouTube playlist with lots of different versions of the song, a history and some other fun tidbits as well.

Pinterest board with lots of farm animal crafts, sound activities, puppets to act out the story/song, information about the spiritual, and lots of info about singing + more!

Guest Links and Giveaway

Alice's website (Check it out for upcoming books, resources to go with her books and more!)
PRH link for I GOTTA SING
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IG

Goodreads (Check here for all the ways to purchase Alice's books -- or visit her website)

To be entered to win a free copy of I GOTTA SING, simply leave a comment below by 11:59 PM EST on Nov. 5, 2025.

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