JAZZ

JAZZ

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Myers, Walter Dean. 2006. JAZZ. Ill by Christopher Myers. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 9780823415458

 

PLOT SUMMARY

JAZZ is a book comprised of 15 poems about jazz music.  Myers begins the book with an introduction about the history of jazz and then includes a timeline and glossary in the back of the book which help the reader become familiar with jazz.  The first poem starts in Africa and then moves on to  the streets of New Orleans including musicians such as the great Louis Armstrong.  Each poem is about the different styles of jazz including be-bop, swing, ragtime, etc.



 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This poetic picture book is about the different styles of jazz and some of the origins and notable figures. The beautiful illustrations, which are bold and full of color and emotion, show various jazz figures and playing of jazz instruments.  There is a rhythmic beat to each of the songs (poems) in JAZZ.  The reader can actually feel the beat and hear the sounds of the songs in their minds.  The style of the text changes in size, color and font depending on the beat and the emotion of the poem.  The language that is used is typical of the era and the culture. I particularly felt the emotion in Session I where Myers describes the "bass thumping like death gone happy/ souls dancing in 2/4 time / breathing sounds and tasting the rhyme."  Myers successfully arouses many different senses in his poetic form and allows the reader to actually feel while they read (or listen) to the different songs. There is also a syncopated beat illustrated in the type and text of each of the songs that ties them together.  I loved being able to not only read these poems, but to actually feel them as well.  "Mercy, mercy, mercy/ please have mercy Mr. Slide Trombone."  I can actually feel the author's soul in these words! 

 

AWARDS

2007 Coretta Scott King Honor Book

2007 BELA Award

 

REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:

"Walter Dean Myers infuses his lines (and the rests between them) with so much savvy syncopation that readers can't help but be swept up in the rhythms."

 

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:

"The expressionistic figures are surrounded by high-contrast colors in which the visible brushstrokes curve around their subjects, creating an aura that almost suggests sound waves."--Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

 

BOOKLIST:

"Middle-graders will feel the sound of the words and pictures working together, and younger kids will hear and see that connection when adults share the book with them."

 

CONNECTIONS

Social Studies, Music:

This is a great book to teach children about the history of jazz and the rhythm of jazz.  It can also be used across the curriculum to discuss different cultures and/or to get students interested in music.  The poems are perfect for read alouds and even better for listening to audios of professional storytellers with music backgrounds.  The theme of rhyming can also be easily taught through these poems.

 

Also read, HARLEM ISBN 9780590543408, another poem by Walter Dean Myers to teach about culture.