I am always on the look out for good picture books. They're the heart of what I use at work, and it seems that so many are published, but few of them really speak to me. This Jazz Man, by Ehrhardt and Roth is one of the good ones!
This Jazz Man is a reworking of "This Old Man" ( come on...sing it! I know you know it!). Each of the numbers is represented by a real jazz man. Those included are Louis "Satcmo" Armstrong, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Luciano "Chano" Pozo y Gonzalez, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Art "Blu" Blakey, John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller, and Charles "Baron" Mingus.
Each is shown in turn singing, dancing or playing the instrument for which he is famous.
The illustrations mix mediums, and are colourful and accessible. They make me happy!
Then the gem of it all is the set of mini biographies of the jazz men in the back of the book. This makes This Jazz Man more than just a picture book to enjoy. I picture my second graders using this as a starting point for some projects, and I picture myself using it to illustrate just what it is that biographies do!
I am planning on purchasing a copy for my daughters when it is released this fall! What a great companion to Charlie Parker Played BeBop.
1 comment:
Dear Stasia,
Thanks for your kind words! It's gratifying to know that you find "This Jazz Man" enjoyable and useful, both at school and at home.
FYI--I'm preparing a "This Jazz Man" curriculum guide which I'll post on a website this Fall.
Perhaps we'll meet someday at a bookstore, public library, or school visit...
Wishing you happy reading!
Karen Ehrhardt
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