The song God Bless the Child was first performed by legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday in 1939 & remains one of her enduring masterpieces: Mama may have, Papa may have, But God bless the child That s got his own! That s got his own. In this picture book interpretation, renowned illus. Jerry Pinckney has created images of a family moving from the rural South to the urban North during the Great Migration that reached its peak in the 1930s. The song s message of self-reliance still speaks to us today but resonates even stronger in its historical context. This extraordinary book stands as a tribute to all those who dared so much to get their own. A CD of Billie Holiday s timeless recording of God Bless the Child is included to enjoy along with the book.